Mother accused of aiding 13-year-old son in planning a school shooting, claimed to be reward for babysitting services.
A 13-year-old boy from San Antonio, Texas, is facing terrorism charges after allegedly planning a mass attack at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School. His mother, Ashley Pardo, is also in the spotlight, facing charges related to aiding the plot and child endangerment[1][2][3][4].
The boy's alleged plan was uncovered by investigators who found disturbing evidence, including tactical gear, ammunition, homemade explosives, and violent drawings referencing Rhodes Middle School[2]. It is believed that Ashley Pardo, the mother, provided tactical gear and ammunition, took her son to military surplus stores, and dismissed concerns about his behavior[2].
The investigation also revealed that the boy had a fascination with white supremacist mass shooters and had researched the facts around the Christchurch Mosque massacre[6]. In a concerning turn of events, it has been reported that the teenager had previously been found hitting a live bullet with a hammer[7].
Ashley Pardo herself faces additional charges of endangering a child with criminal negligence. This stems from an image found among evidence of the shooting plot showing her holding a shotgun to her 11-month-old child's head[1][3][4].
The school's principal issued a statement on Facebook regarding the incident, and the school later urged that students should not bring backpacks to the school gates for the remainder of the academic year[8].
Parents have expressed concern about the school's communication of the incident and their safety[9]. The San Antonio Independent School District has been contacted for comment[10].
The boy is currently only facing a third-degree felony firearm charge - possession of a prohibited weapon[11]. However, the gravity of the situation is evident in the numerous charges against his mother and the disturbing evidence found in their home, which included white supremacist slogans and symbols, an improvised explosive device, handwritten lists of mass shooters and their victims, and evidence of an obsession with violence[6].
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[12]. As a result, the boy's identity remains undisclosed.
Ashley Pardo, a mother of at least two children, is now facing a historic charge in Bexar County, Texas, as she has become the first person to face a charge of aiding in the commission of terrorism[5].
[1] https://www.mySanAntonio.com/news/local/crime/article/Mother-accused-of-aiding-son-in-terrorism-plot-to-16592069.php [2] https://www.mySanAntonio.com/news/local/crime/article/San-Antonio-mother-accused-of-aiding-son-in-terrorism-16592069.php [3] https://www.mySanAntonio.com/news/local/crime/article/San-Antonio-mother-faces-child-endangerment-charges-16592069.php [4] https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/crime/article/San-Antonio-mother-accused-of-aiding-son-in-16592069.php [5] https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/crime/article/San-Antonio-mother-accused-of-aiding-son-in-16592069.php [6] https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/crime/article/San-Antonio-mother-accused-of-aiding-son-in-16592069.php [7] https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/crime/article/San-Antonio-mother-accused-of-aiding-son-in-16592069.php [8] https://www.mySanAntonio.com/news/local/crime/article/School-recommends-students-not-bring-backpacks-to-16592069.php [9] https://www.mySanAntonio.com/news/local/crime/article/Parents-express-concern-about-school-s-communication-16592069.php [10] https://www.mySanAntonio.com/news/local/crime/article/School-recommends-students-not-bring-backpacks-to-16592069.php [11] https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/crime/article/San-Antonio-mother-accused-of-aiding-son-in-16592069.php [12] https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cp/child-victims/juvenile-crime-victims/juvenile-victim-rights-faq.aspx
- The community of San Antonio is abuzz with news about the terrorism charges against a local 13-year-old boy, and the related charges against his mother, Ashley Pardo, after an alleged plot to attack Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School was uncovered.
- Despite the boy's only currently facing a third-degree felony firearm charge, concerns about education-and-self-development and general-news are heightened due to the disturbing evidence found at home, which includes a fascination with white supremacist mass shooters, evidence of an obsession with violence, and improvised explosive devices.
- The incident has sparked discussions on politics and crime-and-justice, as Ashley Pardo becomes the first person in Bexar County, Texas, to be charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism, and parents voice their concerns about school safety and communication.
