Gunman Kills Canadian Woman, Injures At Least 13 at Mexico’s Teotihuacán Pyramids

A gunman opened fire at Mexico’s Teotihuacán pyramids, a popular tourist and archaeological site outside Mexico City, killing a Canadian woman and injuring at least 13 people before the attacker died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday, authorities said.

Al Jazeera reported that the perpetrator later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Monday, and CBC similarly said the shooter later killed himself.

ABC News

The incident took place shortly after 11:30am local time, when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon, according to Al Jazeera.

CBC reported that local media footage appeared to show an armed man shooting from atop one of the pyramids, and it said the gunman was on an elevation above Ontarian Daniel Edwards and his wife as they descended the steps.

Edwards told CBC Windsor from Mexico that “I just started to hear people scream,” and he said he looked up and “he was with his gun pointed in the air.”

The Associated Press was cited by multiple outlets in describing the sequence of events and the response, including that police officers providing security within the archaeological ruins were first to respond and that a National Guard unit arrived shortly afterwards, according to Al Jazeera.

Mexico’s Security Cabinet said a firearm, a bladed weapon and ammunition were found at the scene, CBS News reported, while the BBC said police recovered a firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene.

The accounts of who was injured and how many people were hurt varied by outlet, but all described a mix of gunshot wounds and injuries from falls during the panic.

Al Jazeera said the State of Mexico said seven of the injured victims had been shot, and others had suffered from falls.

ABC11 Raleigh-Durham

CBC reported that the Associated Press later put the total at at least 13 injured, including six Americans and two Brazilians, and it said seven people were wounded by gunshots.

CBS News said at least seven people suffered gunshot wounds and at least two people were injured from falls, and it reported that eight people were still hospitalized as of Monday night.

NBC News reported that 13 people from different countries suffered a range of injuries, including six Americans, seven of whom were wounded by gunfire, and it said the ages of those injured range from 6 to 55.

NBC News also said the security cabinet identified two Americans, two Colombians, one Canadian, one Russian and one Brazilian among the seven people who were shot, and it added that four Americans, one Brazilian and another Colombian were also hurt beyond the gunshot victims.

CBC identified the injured Canadian as Felicia Lee, 26, and it listed a six year-old Colombian child, Colombians aged 37 and 22, a 55-year-old Dutch national and a 42-year-old Russian.

Local prosecutors identified the suspected gunman as Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, a Mexican national, and multiple outlets said he died after the attack.

Al Jazeera reported that local prosecutors later identified the suspected gunman as Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, a Mexican national, and it said they did not provide further details.

CBC likewise said local prosecutors said in a post on X that the gunman was Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, a Mexican national, and it added that they did not provide further details.

NBC News said security Secretary Cristóbal Castañeda told reporters he would prefer not to speculate about the gunman’s identity or motive, but it appears he acted alone.

Global News said it was too early to identify the shooter or his motivation, but added preliminary reports suggest the gunman acted alone in a “direct” attack.

In terms of official reaction, Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was closely monitoring the situation and that her government was in contact with the Canadian embassy, and she instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support, according to Al Jazeera.

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said in a statement on X that “Global Affairs consular officials are in touch to provide assistance.”

Witnesses described chaotic moments as gunshots rang out and visitors scrambled down steep steps to avoid being targeted.

Al Jazeera said a tour guide described how “Some people, because they were scared … threw themselves face down on the ground, and the rest of us started to go down.”

Al Jazeera

CBC provided a parallel first-person account from Daniel Edwards, who said, “I looked up and he was with his gun pointed in the air,” and he described a “herd of people” clambering down the steep steps.

CBC also quoted Brenda Lee, who told CBC’s Hanomansing Tonight that a vendor said, “Yes, that's gunfire — run.”

The BBC described chaotic scenes from a British couple, quoting them as saying, “There was a big push and panic of everybody running at the same time to get out,” and it said they described confusion as they reached the ticket gates.

Sky News reported that a tour guide told the Associated Press he heard between 20 and 30 gunshots ring out before security officials arrived.

The Guardian included a quote from an unverified video, where a voice can be heard saying, “A person is opening fire on us, take care friends, send security,” and it also quoted witness Laura Torres saying, “First it was sporadic, then one shot after another, then sporadic again.”

The shooting at Teotihuacán immediately fed into broader scrutiny of security planning in Mexico, especially as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Canada.

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, and it referenced February violence after the killing of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, also known as “El Mencho”.

BBC

The BBC said it comes with seven weeks to go before the first match of the Fifa World Cup is held in Mexico City, and it reported that Mexico plans to deploy nearly 100,000 security personnel to protect fans.

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

Officials emphasized investigation and support for victims, with Al Jazeera quoting Sheinbaum writing, “I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support.”

CBC reported that Canada’s ambassador to Mexico, Cameron MacKay, said he was “deeply saddened” and offered condolences to the families and loved ones of the Canadians.

Canada’s travel advisory for Mexico, last updated March 31, was cited by the BBC as warning Canadians to exercise a high degree of caution “due to high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping.”