Texas Mother Arrested For Helping Son Plan School Shooting

SAN ANTONIO, TX – The mother of a San Antonio middle-school student was arrested Monday after she allegedly helped her son plan a school shooting.

Ashley Pardo, 33, has been charged with aiding in commission of terrorism after she purchased ammunition, magazines and tactical gear for her son, knowing they would be used to carry out a crime, according to court documents.

Pardo’s son had stated he wanted to carry out “acts of mass violence” at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School, San Antonio police said.

He arrived at the school campus Monday “wearing a mask, camouflage jacket and tactical pants but left shortly after,” police said. 

The student was later found off-campus and charged with terrorism, according to school officials.

The school also added extra security and searched the campus for potential explosive devices.

A day earlier, a family member reportedly contacted San Antonio police with concerns after finding the boy’s weapons.

The student had also previously drawn a map of the school campus labeled “suicide route,” which school officials were aware of, police stated.

Pardo “expressed to the school her support of (her son’s) violent expressions and drawings and does not feel concerned for his behavior,” according to the arrest affidavit.

Pardo‘s son was suspended in April when it was learned he was researching the 2020 Christchurch mosque shooting on a school-issued computer.

The student then attended an alternative school until he returned to Rhodes Middle School on May 8, at which point school officials implemented a safety plan in fear of potential violence.

Pardo was given a $75,000 bond, which she posted Tuesday and was released from Bexar County Jail.