A 13-year-old has been arrested after police allege the teen had plotted to commit a school shooting, while his mom is also behind bars - accused of aiding her son.
A community in San Antonio, Texas, descended into panic in May after it became known that a boy had been preparing to carry out a massacre on the grounds of Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School - located just a 15-minute drive from the city center.
In May, the schoolboy arrived on campus 'wearing a mask, camouflage jacket and tactical pants but left shortly after', police confirmed - before later catching up with him away from the school and charged him with terrorism.
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According to court documents, his mom Ashley Pardo had taken him to a military store where she bought him the gear, including ammunition. The 33-year-old reportedly purchased the equipment as a reward 'in exchange for babysitting his siblings', officials claim.
Meanwhile, the teen's grandmother blew the whistle on her grandson as she rang the police to inform them of her fears, after he told her that he was 'going to be famous' before leaving for school on May 12.
Who is Ashley Pardo and her son?
Ashley Pardo is a mom of at least two children - the first being the 13-year-old who she is accused of having been complicit in his plans to carry out a school shooting. The other known child being an infant, who at 11 months old, she took a picture of herself pointing a shotgun at her baby.
Her teen son was a student at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School and was a known delinquent, with court records noting that he was accused of setting fires in dumpsters near apartment complexes when he was just 11 years old.
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It has also been reported that the teenager has previously been found hitting a live bullet with a hammer.
Both Pardo and her son remain in custody.
Why have police not named the boy?
In the US, children under the age of 18, who have been arrested in relation to a crime, are awarded anonymity until adulthood or up until their case is transferred to an adult court.
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In this instance, Pardo's teen son's identity will be protected by law in the initial stages of the case, but could be released if a judge ruled that it is in the public's interest due to the severity of the case.
Charges Ashley Pardo faces and court orders
Pardo has become 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.
As mentioned previously, Pardo allegedly bought several things to help her son commit a shooting, such as ammunition, tactical gear, and loaded magazines - according to court documents
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It is claimed that Pardo gave her son the equipment to kill 'in exchange for babysitting his siblings', officials said.
The mom was arrested in relation to the incident but posted a $75,000 bond.
Aiding in the commission of terrorism isn’t the only charge Pardo is facing, as she was arrested yesterday (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 her 11-month-old child, according to the arrest warrant.
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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 - with a bond set at $45,000.
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She is also unable to own firearms or drink alcohol, as per the judge’s orders.
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.”
Charges Pardo's son faces
The teenager is currently only facing a third-degree felony firearm charge - possession of a prohibited weapon, although it is expected that he will face more charges.
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He has also been deemed a risk to public safety, and so his grandmother's plea for him to be released into her custody with a GPS tracker on has been thrown out by the judge.
His next hearing is set for August 7.
What inspired the boy to want to commit school shooting?
Authorities allege Pardo's 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.
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It was discovered that the teen had been researching the facts around the horrific 2019 Christchurch Mosque massacre, allegedly telling his grandmother - who reported it to the police - that he was 'going to be famous’.
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.
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“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.”
Why school let the teen back in despite findings
San Antonio Independent School District officials found violent drawings in the boy's possession, including maps of the school.
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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.
What Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School said
On May 12, Rhodes Middle School's principal Felismina Martinez issued a statement to parents on Facebook.
"Dear Families, I want to inform you of an incident that involved a student. Our police department investigated a concern with some posts the student made online," it read.
"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.
"We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure. Student safety is a top priority at SAISD (San Antonio Independent School District) schools, and we want to keep families informed of situations as soon as we are able. We thank you for your support and understanding."
A week later, the school posted to the social media platform to inform parents that students should not bring backpacks to the school gates for the remainder of the academic year.
"No more student backpacks will be allowed for the rest of the school year," it urged.
How parents reacted
Understandably, parents were worried following the news that the youngster had plotted to carry out a school shooting on Rhodes Middle School's grounds, as well as alleging that the only communication of the incident they received was from a Facebook post.
One concerned mother commented under the initial post: "This should not be the only way to communicate something like this?!? The mother is out on bond and I do not feel safe sending my son the rest of the school year!
"A phone call or email would have been better than posting on Facebook!! What if something had happened?!???"
While another mom added: "Poorly worded response from the school. Made the situation sound a lot less serious than it really is.
"The tone of this letter sounds like Rhodes had something simple as an electrical issue at school not a possible mass shooting being intervened."
With a third typing: "What's going to happen now ? She's out and bond & who knows where her child is ? What if they both go to the school ?"
A worry that other parents agreed with, as another mom asked: "What are the precautions taken in this situation? I’m scared to send my child to school.."
UNILAD has contacted San Antonio Independent School District for comment.
Topics: Crime, Parenting, Texas, US News, Gun Crime, Court, School
Joe Yates