San Antonio police chief William McManus, center, speaks at a press conference earlier this year. Credit: Michael Karlis

Ashley Pardo, the San Antonio mother accused of gathering munitions for her son as he allegedly plotted a mass shooting at Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School, has posted bail, SAPD Chief William McManus said at a Thursday press conference.

Pardo, who was held on $75,000 bond on a charge of aiding in the commission of terrorism, is the first person ever to be charged with terrorism in Bexar County, McManus said. He added that she’s also is the first person in Texas to be charged with aiding in the commission of terrorism since the offense was codified in 2023 following the mass shooting at Uvalde’s Robb Elementary School.

“I don’t know what bond conditions will be put on her, but of course, there’s always a concern if the mother doesn’t want to comply with whatever conditions she’s released on,” McManus said. “That may be an issue, and we’ll deal with that if or when it happens.”

Pardo’s former employer, Cream Cocktail Bar on the St. Mary’s Strip, denied posting her bail in a social media post.

Pardo was arrested Monday on accusations she bought her 13-year-old son tactical gear, ammunition and magazines even though she was aware of his fascination with mass shootings and about his past behavioral problems, including a suicide attempt.

SAPD obtained an arrest warrant for the youth and his mother after his grandmother called authorities to let them know she’d found a loaded rifle along with pistol magazines in her home, according to an arrest affidavit.

“There were also some very disturbing things that were found inside the mother’s house, which was an indication to us that we needed to move quickly,” McManus said.

The chief declined to elaborate on what those items are.

School officials, Child Protective Services and the police had been in previous contact with Pardo about her son’s alarming behavior, however she’d been “dismissive and unconcerned,” according to McManus.

“It’s abhorrent, especially as a parent,” he told reporters.

The son, whom authorities haven’t named because he’s a minor, is in custody at the Bexar County Juvenile Detention Center while he awaits a hearing, McManus said.

Last month, the youth was suspended and sent to an alternative school after campus officials caught him researching the 2019 mosque shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, on a school-issued computer, according to the case’s arrest affidavit. A total of 51 people died in that mass-casualty event.

The day of his suspension, the boy attempted suicide, sustaining an injury that required 100 stitches, according to McManus. He returned to Jeremiah Rhodes Middle School on May 7.

“The student has a right to be in school unless they pose an immediate threat,” San Antonio Independent School District Chief of Police Johnny Reyes Jr. told reporters of the decision to allow the youth back on campus.

McManus said the San Antonio Fire Department’s arson unit, SAPD’s special victims unit, the Behavioral Threat Assessment Group, Southwest Texas Fusion Center and the FBI are assisting in the ongoing investigation.

“If you hear somebody saying things that are violent in nature, if you see someone’s writings that are violent in nature, that’s a good indicator that something is amiss and you need to report that,” McManus said.

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San Antonio mom accused of helping 13-year-old son plot mass shooting posts $75,000 bond

Michael Karlis

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