In an unsettling revelation from San Antonio, Ashley Pardo, 33, faced accusations of aiding her 13-year-old son in a plot to commit a terror attack at Rhodes Middle School. According to Fox San Antonio, Pardo and her son were arrested on charges related to terrorism, marking a first use of this charge in Bexar County since its establishment in 2023.
San Antonio Police Chief William McManus expressed his concerns, stating that "Her behavior is not only dangerous, it's abhorrent, especially as a parent." The mother reportedly bought ammunition, tactical gear, and allowed her son to research mass shootings. With a glaring dismissal of her son's concerning behavior, she facilitated his disturbing interests, despite being in constant contact with law enforcement and school officials, as per the details obtained by KSAT.
Uncovered in January 2025, the teenager was found to have made violent drawings at school featuring "disturbing images of his school" and expressing a fascination with mass shootings, as reported by KSAT. He was later suspended in April after researching a New Zealand mosque attack at school, and after a brief suspension, he was then reintegrated into his home school, Rhodes Middle School in SAISD, under increased security measures.
Last Sunday, a family member discovered the boy attempting to hit a bullet with a hammer, after which loaded magazines and an improvised explosive device were found in his possession. By acting on a tip from the family member, looking into a bucket once used to contain toys but now replaced with magazines and tactical gear, the law enforcement took immediate action, safeguarding the community and preventing the potential terror attack. This discovery led to both mother and son's arrest on Monday, as noted by Fox San Antonio.
McManus informed us that the juvenile is currently detained at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Facility and Pardo was released after posting a $75,000 bond. Additionally, symbols and references to white supremacy and Nazism were reported to be found within the child's room.
Ripples of the incident spread beyond the immediate family into the community. An official from Rhodes Middle School assured families of the ongoing commitment to student safety in a letter, saying, "We will always remain vigilant to ensure our learning and working environment is safe and secure," as mentioned by KSAT. Cream Cocktail Lounge, a former employer of Pardo, has also reacted by confirming her immediate termination upon learning of the charges via an Instagram statement.
