A Texas mother has been arrested and charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism after authorities say warning signs about her middle school son’s violent intentions culminated in his grandmother discovering weapons and an explosive device in his bedroom this week.
Police say the warning signs regarding the student at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School had been present for months.
The situation reportedly reached a critical point on Sunday when the boy’s grandmother entered his bedroom and found rifle and pistol magazines “loaded with live ammunition” and a homemade explosive, according to a court document.
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The following morning, as the boy’s mother, 33-year-old Ashley Pardo, drove him to school, the grandmother alerted law enforcement.
Pardo was arrested Monday and faces a charge of aiding in the commission of terrorism. Authorities allege she provided her son with ammunition and tactical gear, purportedly as payment for babysitting his younger siblings.
According to a Bexar County arrest affidavit obtained by KSAT, Pardo purchased these items despite being aware of her son’s obsession with violence. The affidavit alleges Pardo “intentionally and knowingly aided” her son.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus condemned the mother’s alleged actions during a news conference Thursday, stating, “Her behavior is not only dangerous, it’s abhorrent, especially as a parent.”
The affidavit further notes that Pardo “expressed to the school her support of (her son’s) violent expressions and drawings and does not feel concerned for his behavior.”
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Notes allegedly made by the child indicated an interest in mass shooters and White supremacist symbols, according to the document. Investigators wrote that the alleged plot put people at his school “in further fear of serious bodily injury.”
The affidavit also references a prior incident on May 12, when the boy went to school “wearing a mask, camouflage jacket and tactical pants,” and left shortly afterward.
When authorities could not immediately locate him following the discovery of the weapons, school officials reportedly feared he might return to carry out an attack, prompting increased security, including additional police officers and a campus sweep for potential devices.
Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School informed parents in a Monday letter that the student was later detained off-campus and charged. The boy’s name has not been released as court records for juvenile cases are not public. He remained in juvenile custody as of Thursday afternoon, McManus said.
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“Please know we take all potential threats seriously and act immediately to protect everyone in our care,” the school principal’s letter stated. “We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure. Student safety is a top priority at SAISD schools, and we want to keep families informed of situations as soon as we are able.”
Pardo’s bond was set at $75,000. According to KSAT, she was released from Bexar County Jail on Tuesday after posting bail. Magistrate Marilisa Janssen ordered her confined to her home with GPS monitoring and prohibited her from possessing firearms or incendiary devices. Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 17, and she has requested a court-appointed attorney.
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