An armed man opened fire on tourists at Teotihuacán pyramids Monday, killing one Canadian and wounding at least 13 others at the archaeological site north of Mexico City, authorities said.
A state official, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the gunman as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso of Mexico. He later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Security officials found a gun, a knife, and ammunition at the scene. The State of Mexico government confirmed Jasso was the sole assailant in the attack.
The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. at the Pyramid of the Moon, where dozens of tourists had gathered. A tour guide who was at the scene said the gunman began firing upward while standing on the structure’s platform, then opened fire on tourists descending the pyramid’s steps. Some visitors fell as they fled; some while climbing the pyramids.
Eyewitness Accounts
Brenda Lee, visiting from Vancouver, British Columbia, told Canada’s CTV News that she initially thought she heard firecrackers. “Before we knew it, someone said, ‘No, that’s gunfire, run,’ and we saw people coming off the top,” she said.
“There were thousands of people there and there were a lot of gunshots that just kept coming,” Lee said. She described the chaotic evacuation, noting that one visitor jumped to escape and fell to the next level, landing on his back.
The Victims and the Site
Those hospitalized included six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians, and one Canadian, the local government said. The youngest injured person was 6 years old; the oldest was 61, Mexican authorities said.
The Teotihuacán pyramids are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, consisting of massive structures on the outskirts of Mexico City built by three different ancient civilizations. As one of Mexico’s most important tourist destinations, the site drew more than 1.8 million international visitors last year, according to government figures.
In past years, staff at the archaeological site conducted security scans before people entered the area but have since stopped, one local guide noted.
Official Response
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy. “What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” she wrote.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said on X that as a “result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán” and that her “thoughts are with their family and loved ones.”
U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson expressed “deep concern” and sadness over the deaths and numerous injuries, saying on X that the U.S. is “ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.