Texas police arrest mother and her son on terrorism charges
Wednesday, May 21, 2025
On Thursday, the San Antonio Police Department (SAPD) announced they had arrested a 33 year-old woman and her teenager son on terrorism charges some days earlier. She had bought equipment such as ammunition and tactical gear in order to help him commit a violent attack against his school.
On Sunday, May 11, upon entering his bedroom, the boy's grandmother had spotted him hammering a live bullet, and also discovered a homemade explosive device containing the name of Brenton Tarrant – the perpetrator of the mosque shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand in March 2019 – and a note listing the names of mass shooting perpetrators and their respective number of victims. The boy confessed to her that his mother, Ashley Rosalinda Pardo, had taken him to military surplus stores to purchase a tactical vest and helmet, along with magazines about handguns and rifles, on the condition that he took care of his younger siblings. The teenager's grandmother reported her findings to the police the following day.
On Monday, the student arrived at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School in tactical gear but left soon after. As he exited the school's campus, SAPD officers apprehended and arrested him alongside his mother. The teenager, whose name and identity have not been revealed, expressed a desire to become famous before leaving for school. Ashley Pardo was released on a USD75,000 bail while being placed under house arrest, and she is scheduled to appear before the court on July 17.
Felismina Martinez, Rhodes Middle School Principal, stated that parents must "take all potential threats seriously and act immediately to protect everyone in our care."
Police were monitoring the student since January, when school officials became aware of his activities including violent drawings, a map of the school labeled "suicide route," and a stated fascination with mass shooters and their manifestos. On April, the middle school suspended him after he used one of the facility's computers to search for past mass shootings; on that same day he seriously injured himself in an unsuccessful suicide attempt. He later returned to the school on May 8. Pardo was reportedly nonchalant about her son's behavior, going as far as to express support for his drawings.
Sources
[edit]- Chris Spargo. Her Son Was Planning a 'Mass' Attack at Middle School. She Bought Him Ammo Anyway: Affidavit — People (magazine), May 15, 2025
- Nina Golgowski. Mom Accused Of Buying Son Ammo, Tactical Gear For Planned 'Act Of Violence' — Huffington Post, May 15, 2025
- Marlene Lenthang. Texas mother charged with buying ammo and tactical gear for son who planned to attack middle school — NBC News, May 15, 2025
- Max Matza. Texas mother accused of helping son plan school shooting — BBC News Online, May 15, 2025
