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A Texas mother has been arrested and charged after allegedly purchasing ammunition and tactical gear for her son’s planned mass shooting at his middle school, authorities said.
Ashley Pardo, 33, was taken into custody on Monday, May 12, and charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism. According to an affidavit obtained by ABC News, Pardo is accused of providing her son with supplies to support a planned act of “mass targeted violence” at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio.
The investigation into the case began in January, when officials first contacted Pardo’s son after discovering disturbing drawings related to the school he attended. The affidavit states that the drawings included a labeled map of the campus marked “suicide route,” and the name of the school written beside an image of a rifle.
Authorities noted that the boy, whose name has not been released due to his age, had expressed a “fascination with past mass shooters.”
In April, school officials discovered the student using a school-issued computer to research the 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand, where 51 people were killed. Later that day, he reportedly attempted suicide with a straight razor, suffering significant injuries that required over 100 stitches.
Following the incident, the student was placed in an alternative education program until May 7.
The investigation remains ongoing.
On Monday, a young boy told his grandmother he was “going to be famous” before being picked up by his mother and taken to school, according to officials.
Concerned, the grandmother searched the boy’s bedroom and discovered rifle magazines and pistol magazines loaded with live ammunition, the affidavit states. She also found an improvised explosive device labeled “For Brenton Tarrant”—a reference to the gunman in the 2019 mosque attacks—as well as white supremacist symbols, including “SS” markings and the “14 words” slogan.
Additionally, a handwritten note referencing various mass shootings, suspects, and victim counts was found among the boy’s belongings.
According to the affidavit, the boy’s mother, identified as Pardo, was aware of her son’s violent threats and supported his “violent expressions and drawings.” She reportedly purchased tactical gear and ammunition for him in exchange for his help babysitting his younger siblings.
School officials reported that the boy arrived at Rhodes Middle School on Monday wearing a camouflage jacket, tactical pants, and a mask, but left shortly afterward.
In a letter to parents, Principal Felismina Martinez confirmed the student was “detained off-campus and is being charged with terrorism.”
“Please know we take all potential threats seriously and act immediately to protect everyone in our care,” Martinez wrote. “We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure.”
Pardo was released on a $75,000 bond on Tuesday, May 13. She is scheduled for a pre-indictment hearing on July 17, according to court records.
