Gunman Kills Canadian Tourist At Teotihuacán Pyramids, Injures At Least 13

An armed man opened fire on tourists at the Teotihuacán pyramids, an archaeological site outside Mexico City, killing one Canadian tourist and injuring at least 13 people, authorities said on Monday.

ABC7 Los Angeles reported that the shooting occurred at the archaeological site “an hour north of Mexico’s capital” and that “An armed man standing atop one of the historic Teotihuacán pyramids opened fire on tourists Monday, leaving one Canadian tourist dead and six people injured.”

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AP similarly said the gunman “opened fire on tourists Monday, killing one Canadian and leaving at least 13 people injured at the archaeological site north of Mexico’s capital.”

Multiple outlets placed the timing shortly after 11:30 a.m., with ABC7 Los Angeles saying the incident took place “shortly after 11:30 a.m. when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.”

Al Jazeera said the incident took place “shortly after 11:30am (17:30 GMT) local time, when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.”

The BBC described the attack as a shooting at “one of Mexico’s most important tourist destinations, the ancient pyramid complex of Teotihuacán,” where “A 32-year-old Canadian woman has been killed and 13 people injured.”

Several reports described the gunman firing from the Pyramid of the Moon while visitors ducked for cover, with the AP quoting a tour guide: “Some people, because they were scared ... threw themselves face down on the ground, and the rest of us started to go down.”

Local prosecutors and security officials identified the suspected gunman as Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, with multiple outlets tying the name to a Mexican national who died by self-inflicted gunshot wound at the site.

Al Jazeera said local prosecutors “identified the suspected gunman as Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, a Mexican national,” and added that “The perpetrator later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday, local officials said.”

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AP reported that the shooter was identified as “27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso of Mexico,” and that “Jasso later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

The BBC also named the shooter as “Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a Mexican national,” and said “The gunman killed himself after the attack.”

NBC News said the Mexican attorney general’s office identified the gunman as “Julio César Jasso of Mexico” and that “authorities said he acted alone,” while CBS News said “Local prosecutors identified the gunman as Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, a Mexican national.”

Several reports described what security officials found at the scene, including a firearm, a knife, and ammunition.

AP stated that “security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition,” and the BBC said “Police recovered a firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene.”

Accounts of the injured and how they were hurt varied by outlet, but multiple reports described both gunshot wounds and injuries from falls during the scramble to escape.

Al Jazeera said the State of Mexico reported “seven of the injured victims had been shot, and others had suffered from falls,” and it also said victims were taken to hospital for treatment.

AP reported that “the local government said seven people were wounded by gunshots,” and that “a number of people fell when shooting started,” while also saying “How the other people were injured was not disclosed.”

ABC7 Los Angeles said “The local government said four people were wounded by gunshots and two were injured from falls,” and it added that “The victims were taken to hospitals for treatment.”

France 24 said “Six people were wounded by gunfire and taken to local hospitals,” and that “Seven other people were injured in the scramble for safety and were treated at the scene.”

AP provided a detailed breakdown of who was injured, stating that those taken to hospitals included “six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians and one Canadian,” and that “The youngest person who was injured was 6; the oldest was 61.”

Witness accounts captured the panic and movement on the pyramid, including the AP tour guide’s description: “Some people, because they were scared ... threw themselves face down on the ground, and the rest of us started to go down,” and Brenda Lee’s account to CTV News that “There were thousands of people there and there were a lot of gunshots that just kept coming.”

Mexico’s political leadership and foreign counterparts responded quickly, with President Claudia Sheinbaum saying the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian embassy.

ABC7 Los Angeles quoted Sheinbaum writing on social media: “What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” and it said she was “in touch with the Canadian Embassy.”

ABC7 Los Angeles

AP similarly reported that Sheinbaum wrote, “What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” and it added that she “instructed her security cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support.”

Al Jazeera quoted Sheinbaum saying, “I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support,” and it said “Personnel from the Secretariat of the Interior and Culture are already heading to the site to provide assistance and accompaniment, along with local authorities.”

Canada’s foreign affairs minister Anita Anand also issued statements, with ABC7 Los Angeles saying Anand told 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.”

NBC News quoted Anand saying, “As a result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán, Mexico,” and it said “My thoughts are with their family and loved ones.”

The AP reported that U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson expressed “deep concern” and sadness and said the U.S. is “ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”

Different outlets reported different injury totals and different counts of how many people were shot versus hurt in falls, and they also varied in how they described the shooter’s identity and context.

ABC7 Los Angeles said the incident left “one Canadian tourist dead and six people injured,” and it specified that “The local government said four people were wounded by gunshots and two were injured from falls.”

ABC7 San Francisco

Al Jazeera said “a Canadian woman” was killed and “left at least 13 others injured,” and it stated “seven of the injured victims had been shot, and others had suffered from falls.”

AP said the gunman killed one Canadian and left “at least 13 people injured,” while also reporting that “the local government said seven people were wounded by gunshots.”

France 24 said “Six people were wounded by gunfire” and “Seven other people were injured in the scramble for safety,” while BBC reported “13 people injured” and named the shooter as “Julio César Jasso Ramírez.”

The Los Angeles Times included claims from “Mexican media outlets, citing police sources” that the gunman “had expressed admiration for the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre,” while also noting “There was no official confirmation, however, of the shooter’s identity or any facts about his life.”

The Guardian reported a witness account from Laura Torres, saying she heard “more than 20 shots coming from the Pyramid of the Moon,” and it quoted her describing the pattern as “First it was sporadic, then one shot after another, then sporadic again.”

The shooting at Teotihuacán unfolded as Mexico prepared for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and multiple outlets linked the incident to heightened attention on security at major tourist and cultural sites.

Al Jazeera said the incident “comes less than two months from the start of the FIFA World Cup, which Mexico will cohost with the United States and Canada.”

BBC said the attack came “with seven weeks to go before the first match of the Fifa World Cup is held in Mexico City.”

France 24 said the shooting occurred “less than two months before the 2026 World Cup kicks off with games in Mexico, the United States and Canada.”

DW said Mexico is preparing to “co‑host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside the United States and Canada,” and it described the event as “expected to draw millions of visitors from abroad with scrutiny focused on security at major tourist and cultural sites.”

AP reported that the National Institute of Anthropology and History said the Teotihuacán archaeological site “will remain closed until further notice,” while NBC News said IMSS Bienestar confirmed patients were being treated at “the Axapusco General Hospital.”

NBC News also said “The Mexican Secretariat of Security said it will maintain a presence in the area in coordination with the relevant authorities while it investigates.”