A 13-YEAR-OLD boy was rewarded by his mom with ammunition and tactical gear for babysitting while he plotted a mass shooting, cops have said.
A teenager, whose identity has not been revealed, is accused of scheming to execute “mass targeted violence” at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School in San Antonio, Texas, following his admiration for white supremacist mass shooters.
He was detained at the school on May 12, months after cops were initially alerted to mass shooting fears.
His mother, Ashley Pardo, aged 33, is the pioneering individual in Bexar County’s history to be charged with assisting in the execution of terrorism, a crime that was codified in the state in 2023.
The authorities allege in an arrest affidavit that she made a series of alarming purchases on her son’s behalf, which included tactical gear, ammunition magazines, a helmet, and military attire.
The document noted that the purchases were part of an agreement for her son babysitting his siblings.
Although aware of her son’s threats and his “violent expressions and drawings,” Pardo acquired these items “with full knowledge” they would be utilized “to plan and execute” a crime, as mentioned in the affidavit.
She had previously been warned by Child Protective Services that her son had a desire “to commit acts of violence”.
“She appeared to be dismissive and unconcerned with her son’s behavior,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said at the time of her arrest.
“Her behavior is not only dangerous – it’s abhorrent, especially as a parent.”
Authorities claim that with her sick babysitting rewards, she “intentionally” aided him in his violent goal.
SICK FASCINATION
Police initially contacted the boy in January regarding his troubling conduct and “fixation with previous mass shooters,” discussing “sketches of the local school he attended.”
These included a school map marked “suicide route” alongside a drawing of a rifle and the school name, per the affidavit.
By April, more concerns arose when suspicious searches on a school computer were reported to the authorities, revealing the teenager’s research into the 2019 Christchurch mosque shooting in New Zealand.
In that shooting, far-right terrorist Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people while they prayed.
Following the disturbing web searches, the teenager was suspended from school and sent elsewhere until May 7.
During that time, the boy’s grandmother called the cops after she found him “hitting a live bullet with a hammer,” the affidavit states.
He allegedly told her that his mom had given the bullet to him and had “guns and ammunition at her house”.
The grandmother, who he would sometimes stay with, claimed Pardo would take the teen to a local store to buy ammunition and a tactical vest “capable of concealing ballistic plates”, and other gear, per the affidavit.
CHILLING DISCOVERY
On May 12, the teen allegedly told his grandmother he was “going to be famous” before his mother came to pick him up to take him to school.
The boy’s grandmother then made a chilling discovery in his bedroom.
She found live rifle ammunition, loaded pistol magazines, and an “improvised explosive advice” with “For Brenton Tarrant” written on it along with white supremacist symbols including “SS” and “14 words”, officials said.
The affidavit added that she also found a note written by the boy detailing older mass shootings, their suspects, and the number of victims.
That Monday, school officials told cops that the teenager turned up wearing a camouflage jacket, mask, and tactical pants before vanishing.
His disappearance sparked fears at the school that he was planning an imminent attack and San Antonio officers quickly tracked him down.
Timeline of boy’s disturbing behavior
June 2023: He was caught on CCTV setting fire to dumpsters near his apartment complex causing a series of blazes.
October 2024: Child Protective Services alerted family that his behavior could be a sign that he would commit further violence in future.
January 2025: Drawings of ‘suicide route’ school map found and he “expressed fascination with mass shootings”.
“From this point on, police continuously met with the juvenile and his family, offering them to connect the family with resources and services,” San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said.
April 2025: Suspended after disturbing web searches about mass shootings were flagged.
He attempts suicide.
May 2025: Boy returned to Rhodes Middle School and security is ramped up.
He started hitting a live bullet with a hammer, and told relative that his mother had bought it for him along with tactical gear.
The following day, his grandmother finds ammunition, tactical gear, and IED with covered in white supremacist symbols.
He arrives to school in mask, camouflage jacket and tactical pants before vanishing, sparking school shooting fears and arrest of boy and his mother.
School principal Felismina Martinez later informed parents in a letter that the boy had been “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,” she added.
CHILD ENDANGERMENT ARREST
Pardo who was arrested on the felony terror charge back in May posted her $75,000 bond and was partially on house arrest but was rearrested on Friday for endangering a child with criminal negligence.
Among the evidence found regarding the terror charge was a photo cops claim she sent to the father of an 11-month-old baby back in March 2023.
In it she is seen holding a shotgun near the child’s head with her finger on the trigger guard as the baby reaches towards the barrel of the weapon.
“Tell her to keep being bad,” Pardo allegedly texted the man, while calling the baby a “brat”.
Her husband Mario Porras was arrested in May on the same child endangerment charge, according to jail records.
Pardo is now in police custody and is blocked from contacting her children.
The judge ordered that she wear an ankle monitor if she pays the $45,000 bond and is released.
She is also banned from having a firearm or drinking alcohol.
Meanwhile, her son remains in police custody under a felony weapon charge with more expected to be filed against him after his grandmother’s appeal for custody was denied.
She told cops that the teen was abused and manipulated by his mother and poses no danger under her care – something the judge disagreed with.
The boy’s next court hearing is scheduled for August 7 while his mother also awaits indictment.
