[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
A mother in Texas has been arrested after trying to help her teen son with his school shooting plan.
According to an affidavit obtained by ABC News, 33-year-old Ashley Pardo was charged on Monday for aiding in the commission of terrorism. She allegedly purchased ammunition and tactical gear for her 13-year-old son’s planned “mass target violence” at Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio. Yeah, the mom bought her teenager ammo so he could carry out a school shooting. Here’s what happened.
The affidavit claimed the teen, whose identity was not revealed in the documents, was contacted by officials in January about “drawings of the local school he currently attended” — and they were very alarming. Those drawings allegedly included a map of the middle school, with the label “suicide route,” as well as the name of the place written next to a rifle. And while talking with officials, the affidavit alleged the son spoke about his “fascination with past mass shooters.”
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And his “fascination” with mass shootings didn’t go away after the chat. In April, the affidavit said he got caught looking up the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting in New Zealand, where 51 people were tragically killed, on a school-issued computer and was “subsequently suspended.” Later that day, he allegedly “attempted suicide with a straight razor causing significant injuries and requiring over 100 stitches.” Officials said he then attended an alternative school only until May 7. Once the teen returned, things escalated fast.
The affidavit said his grandma, whom he lived with “on various occasions,” contacted the police on Monday because she discovered the teenager “hitting a live bullet with a hammer.” He allegedly told his grandmother he received the bullet from his mom and that she had “guns and ammunition at her house.” Additionally, the grandmother told law enforcement Pardo took her son to a local surplus store and bought him magazines, a tactical black vest “capable of concealing ballistic plates,” a tactical black helmet, and various army clothing.
Per the affidavit, the boy said to his grandma on Monday that he was “going to be famous” right before Pardo picked him up and took him to school. Afterward, the grandmother went to look through his room, and it was there that she found magazines loaded with live rifle ammunition and pistol magazines loaded with live ammunition. She also discovered an “improvised explosive device,” a mortar-style firework wrapped in duct tape and with the words “For Brenton Tarrant.” The name is about the 2019 mosque shooter. It also had several “SS” symbols and “14 words,” a reference to white supremacy,” the affidavit stated.
WTF.
And it gets more twisted from there. In addition, the grandmother found a handwritten note about previous mass shootings, mass shooting suspects, and the number of victims for each incident. What’s even more concerning? The affidavit claimed Pardo fully knew about the threats made by her son, shared her support for his “violent expressions and drawings” with the school, and said she wasn’t concerned about his behavior. Not only all that, but she allegedly further enabled it by purchasing gear and ammo for the teen in exchange for babysitting his younger siblings. JFC.
Thankfully, nothing happened that day. The school told police that when the teen arrived, he had on a camouflage jacket, mask, and tactical pants, but left shortly after. A letter sent to the parents on Monday from Rhodes Middle School Principal Felismina Martinez said Pardo’s son was “detained off-campus and is being charged with terrorism.” The principal added:
“Please know we take all potential threats seriously and act immediately to protect everyone in our care. We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure.”
Authorities said during a press conference on Thursday that the teenager is in police custody at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Facility pending a judge’s decision. As for the mom? Pardo was released on a $75,000 bond on Tuesday, per jail records. She is set to return to court for a pre-indictment hearing on July 17.
What an insane and scary situation. We’re so glad this was put to a stop before anyone got hurt.
To learn more about the impact of gun violence, visit https://www.apha.org/topics-and-issues/gun-violence.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, help is available. Consider contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988, by calling, texting, or chatting, or go to 988lifeline.org.
[Image via Bexar County Sheriff’s Office]
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