A Texas mother was accused of helping her son conduct a terrorist attack on his middle school by purchasing ammunition and tactical equipment, police and court documents said.
Ashley Rosalinda Pardo, 33, was arrested Monday for assisting San Antonio's terrorism committee.
Police said she allegedly dismissed her 13-year-old son’s violent sketches and obsession with mass shootings and continued to buy shocking items from him.
The San Antonio Police Department announced Thursday that his son, a student at Jeremiah Rhodes High School in San Antonio, was arrested and charged with terrorism. He was not confirmed because he was a teenager.
The boy drew disturbing, violent images in January and “expressed obsession with mass shootings”, the first time he caught the attention of police. San Antonio Police Chief William McManus told reporters at a press conference.
After that, the police continued to meet with him and his family, officials resources and services.
Months later, the boy was suspended for studying mass shootings on a school-issued computer. McManus said he committed suicide the day he paused.
He attended an alternative school during his suspension. When he returned to Rhodes High School in May, the school's safety improved and police remained in touch with their families.
On May 11, a family member saw the boy "hit a bullet with a hammer." McManus said the boy claimed that "his mother bought him bullets and tactical equipment."
Voy reported that the family member was identified as the boy's grandmother and cited the affidavit. The grandmother learned from the boy that Pardo had been bringing her son to a military surplus store and purchased military costumes including tactical helmets, tactical vests, and various pistols and rifles magazines - allegedly in exchange for his young siblings, Woai invoked the affidavit.
The grandmother walked through her child’s room and found ammunition in the magazine, discovered an IED device made of mortar-style fireworks, and wrote a note on the kitchen table that mentioned mass shootings, terrorist attacks, white supremacy, and Nazism.
The next day, Monday, grandmother found the ammunition and contacted the police.
The student arrived at Rhodes High School on Monday, wearing a mask and tactical equipment, but left shortly afterwards. Police said it was not clear whether he was armed at the time.
McManus said police received a warrant after police received the tip and found the teenager before anyone was hurt.
Pador was arrested that day.
McManus said Pardo had been previously contacted by police, schools and child protection services, but “she seemed dismissive and had nothing to do with her son’s behavior.”
"Her behavior is not only dangerous, but also annoying, especially as a parent," McManus said.
The student was arrested for unspecified online comments, San Antonio's Rhodes High School said in a statement.
"I would like to inform you of the incident involving a student. Our police department investigated concerns about some of the posts posted online by some students. The student was detained outside the school and charged with terrorism. Please know that we take all potential threats seriously and take immediate action to protect everyone in our care,"
The boy is still in custody. Officials said it marked the first time someone has been charged with terrorism in Bexar County.
Pardo released a $75,000 margin on Tuesday. She has not listed attorneys in court records. It was not possible to contact Pardo immediately on Thursday.
Online court records show she has not entered the request and held a trailer hearing on July 17.
On bail conditions, she must wear GPS, stay at home, take a weekly drug test, and be ordered not to own a gun.