Gunman Kills Canadian Woman at Mexico’s Teotihuacán Pyramids, Injures Six

A man opened fire at Mexico’s Teotihuacán pyramids on Monday, killing a Canadian woman and injuring others before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Mexican authorities and multiple outlets.

“Gunman at pyramids north of Mexico City kills 1 Canadian tourist and injures 6 Mexico's government says one Canadian tourist has been killed and six other people were injured when a man with a gun opened fire at the historic Teotihuacán pyramids, a tourist site an hour outside of Mexico’s capital MEXICO CITY -- A man with a gun opened fire Monday at the historic Teotihuacán pyramids, killing one Canadian tourist and injuring six other people at the tourist site an hour north of Mexico’s capital, the Mexican government said”

ABC News

NBC News reported that the incident occurred at the Teotihuacán archaeological site “outside of Mexico City,” and said Mexico’s security cabinet stated the injured were receiving medical care.

ABC News

The NBC report quoted Canada’s foreign affairs minister Anita Anand saying, “As a result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán, Mexico,” and it also cited Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s post: “What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families.”

BBC said the incident occurred in the Teotihuacán archaeological zone “about one hour north of Mexico City on Monday,” and it added that police recovered “a firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene.”

Several reports described the gunman firing from an elevated position: the South China Morning Post said videos showed him firing “from halfway up the Pyramid of the Moon,” while the Telegraph similarly described him firing “from halfway up the Pyramid of the Moon” as tourists took cover behind stone steps.

The Telegraph added that the attacker later died from “a self-inflicted gunshot wound,” and it quoted Sheinbaum’s X message: “What happened today in Teotihuacán hurts us deeply. I express my sincerest solidarity to the people affected and their families.”

Across the reports, the number of injured people is consistently six, but the breakdown of who was injured and how injuries occurred is detailed differently by outlet and by the specific official being quoted.

NBC News said “Six people were injured,” and it specified that the security cabinet reported “four who were shot and two who sustained injuries from falls.”

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BBC similarly said “two Colombians, a Russian and a Canadian were among those injured,” while also noting that “The gunman’s identity has not yet been released, and officials haven't revealed a motive for the shooting.”

The Al Jazeera report also described the injury breakdown, saying “four of the injured victims were shot and two others suffered from falls,” and it placed the incident at “Mexico’s Teotihuacan pyramids.”

CBC provided a more granular list of injured individuals and ages, naming Felicia Lee, 26, and others including a six year-old Colombian child and a 55-year-old Dutch national.

France 24, by contrast, reported that “four other people were injured,” alongside the Canadian death, and it quoted Cristobal Castaneda saying the gunman killed himself after opening fire.

The People outlet, citing the Associated Press, described the injured as including tourists from Columbia and Russia as well as another tourist from Canada.

In the background of these counts, multiple outlets also described the gunman’s death as self-inflicted, including NBC News and PBS/AP.

Witness accounts described sudden chaos on the pyramids’ viewing platforms and stairways, and officials emphasized investigation and coordination with foreign governments.

“A gunman has fatally shot a Canadian woman and injured six others at Mexico’s Teotihuacan pyramids, a popular tourist and archaeological site outside of Mexico City, authorities say”

Al Jazeera

NBC News quoted American tourist Tim Chung, who said, “All of a sudden I see a guy fall off one of the viewing platforms and then I heard a shot and another person fall off and then I knew something bad was happening and heard screams,” adding that “everyone in his tour group is safe but described the event as “unbelievably sad.”

NBC also quoted a Mexican security official, Security Secretary Cristóbal Castañeda, who said he would prefer “not to speculate about the gunman’s identity or motive, but it appears he acted alone,” and it noted that “His nationality has not been determined.”

CBC reported that the Teotihuacan pyramids are “located in the State of Mexico, near Mexico City,” and it said local authorities described the area as “calm and under control” following the incident.

The NBC report said Mexico’s Secretariat of Security would “maintain a presence in the area in coordination with the relevant authorities while it investigates the incident,” and it described the injured being taken to hospitals.

The Al Jazeera report quoted Governor Delfina Gomez Alvarez, writing on X that “Care is being provided to the people who were affected, and the presence of elements from the state Secretariat of Security will be maintained,” and it also quoted Sheinbaum’s instruction: “I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support.”

In addition, the Al Jazeera report 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.”

The South China Morning Post described videos showing the gunman firing “periodic shots” from the Pyramid of the Moon while tourists took cover behind stairs, and it included Sheinbaum’s message: “What happened today in Teotihuacan hurts us deeply. I express my sincerest solidarity to the people affected and their families.”

While the core facts align—one Canadian woman killed, six injured, and the gunman dying by self-inflicted gunshot—outlets diverged in emphasis, including how they described the scene, the timing, and the broader security context.

The Telegraph foregrounded the video imagery, noting that “Videos shared on social media show the gunman firing from halfway up the Pyramid of the Moon while tourists take cover behind the stone steps below,” and it added that “In one video, more than a dozen people can be seen rushing down the narrow staircase.”

BBC

NBC News also referenced video, but it focused more on the official response and the international coordination, saying Mexico’s security cabinet reported the injured were receiving medical care and that Canada’s foreign minister Anita Anand said Canadian officials were in touch “to provide assistance.”

BBC, in contrast, placed the incident in a longer arc of public planning, stating that Teotihuacán “will be the site of an immersive nighttime show for tourists during the World Cup this summer,” and it added that “Mexico plans to deploy nearly 100,000 security personnel to protect fans at this summer's tournament.”

France 24 and PBS/AP both described the injury breakdown in terms of “four other people” or “four people were wounded by gunshots and that two more were injured from falls,” but France 24’s phrasing centered on “four other people were injured” while PBS/AP specified the fall injuries and hospital treatment.

People’s framing leaned on the date and the Associated Press context, saying the shooting occurred on “Monday, April 20,” and it described the Mexican Security Cabinet writing on X that “a firearm, a bladed weapon and live cartridges were found at the scene.”

CBC included a security advisory context, quoting Global Affairs Canada’s travel guidance that advises “exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico "due to high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping."”

Even the South China Morning Post, while reporting the same self-inflicted death, emphasized the location’s pre-Aztecan character, describing Teotihuacán as “home to pre-Aztecan pyramids,” and it included Sheinbaum’s solidarity message in English.

The shooting’s immediate aftermath included continued security presence and a stated commitment to investigate, while longer-term stakes were tied to major tourism and the upcoming World Cup.

“Canadian woman killed at popular tourist site in Mexico, officials say A gunman killed a Canadian ‌woman and wounded four other people — including a second Canadian — at the Teotihuacan pyramids outside Mexico City on Monday before killing himself, authorities ​said, jolting one of the ​country's most visited tourist sites”

CBC

NBC News said Mexico’s Secretariat of Security would “maintain a presence in the area in coordination with the relevant authorities while it investigates the incident,” and it reported that the injured were receiving medical care.

CBC

Al Jazeera reported that Governor Delfina Gomez Alvarez wrote on X that “Care is being provided to the people who were affected, and the presence of elements from the state Secretariat of Security will be maintained,” and it also quoted Sheinbaum’s instruction that “I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support.”

BBC said Sheinbaum had instructed her security cabinet to investigate and provide support, and it quoted her post: “What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” while also noting that motive had not been revealed.

Several outlets also connected the incident to the World Cup security posture, including BBC’s statement that Mexico plans to deploy “nearly 100,000 security personnel.”

Al Jazeera added that the incident came “less than two months from the start of the FIFA World Cup,” and it referenced the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho.”

CBC further underscored the travel environment by repeating Global Affairs Canada’s warning and noting its advice was last updated on “March 31.”

In the longer tourism context, NBC News and PBS/AP described Teotihuacán’s importance and said it drew “more than 1.8 million international visitors last year.”