A 32-year-old Canadian tourist was killed and 13 others injured after a gunman opened fire at Mexico's ancient Teotihuacán pyramids on Monday, authorities confirmed. The shooter, identified as Mexican national Julio César Jasso Ramírez, later took his own life at the UNESCO World Heritage site.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed solidarity with victims and their families, stating she had instructed her security cabinet to investigate the incident and provide support. "What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us," she wrote on social media.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed one Canadian citizen was killed and another wounded, with consular officials providing assistance. Among the injured were citizens from Colombia, Russia, and Canada, ranging in age from six to 61 years old.
Witnesses described chaotic scenes as gunfire erupted around 11:00 local time. A British couple visiting the site told reporters: "There was a big push and panic of everybody running at the same time to get out." They described hearing gunfire becoming "louder and more frequent" as people shouted warnings about the gunman's approach.
According to witnesses, the shooter positioned himself on the temple's mezzanine, firing most shots into the air while carrying a digital tablet and shouting. One witness reported seeing a young boy shot in the leg during the attack.
The British visitors criticized the lack of coordinated evacuation, noting: "There was no coordinated evacuation whatsoever - we could see that there were officials running around, but none of them were telling anyone to leave." They also reported no security checks when entering the site despite carrying backpacks.
Police recovered a firearm, bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene. While Mexico has experienced widespread cartel violence, such incidents targeting tourists at major archaeological sites are rare.
The timing raises concerns with the FIFA World Cup beginning in Mexico City in just seven weeks. Mexican officials have previously announced plans to deploy nearly 100,000 security personnel to protect the expected 5.5 million international visitors during the tournament.
Teotihuacán, home to massive pyramids that predate the Aztecs, was scheduled to host an immersive nighttime show for tourists during the World Cup. The ancient city remains one of Mexico's most popular tourist attractions despite this tragic incident.