A Texas mom has been charged after being accused of helping her teenage son plan out 'mass targeted violence' at his school.
Ashley Pardo is now the first person in Bexar County history to face a charge of aiding in the commission of terrorism after officials accused her of arming her 13-year-old son with a plot to carry out mass violence at his San Antonio middle school.
According to court documents, Pardo allegedly bought several things to help her son commit a shooting, such as ammunition, tactical gear, and loaded magazines.
Authorities went on to allege her son drew maps of his school months before his arrest which was marked 'suicide route,' as his fascination with white supremacist mass shooters led him to plan an attack at Rhodes Middle School.
Advert
Shockingly, it is claimed that Pardo gave her son the equipment to kill 'in exchange for babysitting his siblings', officials said.
But that aiding in the commission of terrorism isn’t the only charge Pardo is facing, as she was arrested on Friday (August 1) on a new charge of endangering a child with criminal negligence.
The fresh charge came after an image was found among evidence of the shooting plot, which was allegedly sent from Pardo to the father of an 11-month-old child, according to the arrest warrant.
Advert
The image is said to show her holding a shotgun to the infant’s head, with her finger on the trigger guard as the baby reached for the barrel of the gun, police said.
In the text, she allegedly called the baby a ‘brat’ and stated: “Tell her to keep being bad.”
After her arrest on Friday, the mother was ordered to have no contact with her children, and she must wear an ankle monitor if released from jail.
She is also unable to own firearms or drink alcohol, as per the judge’s orders.
Advert
According to the police, she showed no guilt for the charges she faces, with San Antonio Police Chief William McManus stating during a news conference in May: “She appeared to be dismissive and unconcerned with her son's behavior.
“Her behavior is not only dangerous - it's abhorrent, especially as a parent.”
The mom’s teen son had previously been found hitting a live bullet with a hammer and searching up the 2019 Christchurch Mosque massacre, allegedly telling his grandmother - who reported it to the police - that he was 'going to be famous’.
Advert
This was a reference to Brenton Tarrant, who committed the mass shooting on the New Zealand church, killing 51.
As for their home, authorities say they found white supremacist slogans and symbols such as references to '14 worlds,' 'SS,' and swastikas, as well as an improvised explosive device, handwritten lists of mass shooters and their victims, and evidence of an obsession with violence.
McManus said the family's behavior, and what was found within the home, had forced authorities to act fast.
“There were some very disturbing things found inside that house,” he said. “That kind of was an indication to us that we needed to move very quickly.”
Advert
San Antonio Independent School District officials found violent drawings in the boy's possession, including maps of the school.
Despite the findings, he was allowed back on campus on May 8 after spending time at an alternative programme, with SAISD Police Chief Johnny Reyes stating: “I can understand the parents' concerns. But again, the students still have a right to be in school unless it poses an immediate threat.”
According to court documents, on May 12, the teen arrived to school wearing a mask, tactical pants, and a camouflage jacket, causing the school to alert the police.
When they found him off-campus and arrested him, the search of the home revealed the disturbing finds, and Pardo was later taken into custody before being charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism.
Advert
As for the teen, he is facing a felony weapons charge, with more charges expected to be added on.
His next hearing is set for August 7.
Britt Jones