Julio César Jasso Ramírez Kills Canadian Woman, Injures 13 at Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Moon

An armed attack at Teotihuacán’s Pyramid of the Moon killed a Canadian woman and injured 13 foreign nationals, Mexican officials said, as the gunman opened fire on tourists in the archaeological zone outside Mexico City.

“Video and photos showed a man, later identified as Jasso, standing with a gun on top of a pyramid while people ducked for cover”

ABC7 Los Angeles

CNN reported that “At least one person, a Canadian woman, was killed in the Monday attack in Mexico’s Teotihuacán archeological zone,” while Al Jazeera said the gunman “shot dead a Canadian woman and left at least 13 others injured.”

ABC7 Los Angeles

The BBC likewise said “A 32-year-old Canadian woman has been killed and 13 people injured after a man opened fire at a historical site in Mexico,” adding that “The gunman killed himself after the attack.”

Multiple outlets placed the incident on Monday and tied it to the Pyramid of the Moon, with CNN describing footage of “panicked tourists lying atop Mexico’s historic Pyramid of the Moon.”

The State of Mexico’s security briefing described a precise timeline: CNN en Español said “At 11:20 a.m. local time on Monday” the first report came in, and “By 11:30 a.m., National Guard personnel had arrived.”

CNN en Español further stated that “At 11:45 a.m., the attacker had taken his own life,” and that “it was determined that there was a single attacker who acted alone.”

The attacker was identified across outlets as Julio César Jasso Ramírez, with CNN naming “27-year-old Mexican citizen Julio César Jasso Ramírez” and the BBC stating “Local prosecutors identified the shooter as Julio César Jasso Ramírez.”

Authorities and witnesses described a gunman who fired from atop the Pyramid of the Moon while tourists tried to escape down the steep steps.

CNN reported that “Videos from the scene showed the gunman pacing atop the Pyramid of the Moon, where a crowd of tourists lay on the floor next to him,” and said that after National Guard arrived “the attacker fired shots in their direction.”

Al Jazeera

CNN en Español similarly described that “Images from the Pyramid of the Moon began to show the attacker threatening some tourists,” and that “After the arrival of National Guard elements, the gunman fired at them.”

The BBC added that a witness told Reuters the attack began “at about 11:00 local time on Monday,” and that the gunman “appeared to fire most shots into the air, while carrying a digital tablet and shouting.”

Several outlets emphasized that the attacker acted alone and that security forces eventually cornered him.

CNN en Español stated that “it was determined that there was a single attacker who acted alone,” and that “The attacker was then cornered by security forces.”

The Los Angeles Times described the attacker as a “copycat” who “meticulously planned the attack,” and said Mexican authorities called him “a ‘copycat’ influenced by school shootings.”

Multiple reports portrayed the attack as premeditated and linked it to materials connected to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

CNN said officials described the attack as “premediated,” quoting José Luis Cervantes Martínez, the attorney general of the State of Mexico, saying, “Based on the investigative steps taken, it appears this act was not spontaneous. The attacker planned and carried out his action alone.”

The New York Times reported that officials said Jasso Ramírez “checked into a hotel near one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations” on Sunday and that the next morning he “took an Uber to the archaeological site,” climbed the Pyramid of the Moon, and “opened fire.”

NPR said the gunman “carried materials that were apparently related to the 1999 shooting at Columbine High School,” and that authorities referred to “several books and handwritten notes that belonged to the gunman and referenced attacks in the United States in April 1999.”

CNN en Español said the attacker carried “a tactical-style backpack” containing “more than 50 usable rounds, a stabbing weapon, and literature, images, and manuscripts allegedly related to violent acts that are believed to have occurred in the United States in April 1999.”

The BBC reported that police recovered “a firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene,” and CNN said the attacker was identified as “27-year-old Mexican citizen Julio César Jasso Ramírez.”

The Los Angeles Times described Mexican authorities calling him “obsessed with the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado,” and said the prosecutor described him as a “copycat” with “traits of psychological problems.”

Mexican officials and international leaders responded quickly, while security measures were discussed in the context of the upcoming World Cup.

CNN said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum insisted “her country is safe for tourists” and that “authorities will reinforce security to prevent another shooting of this kind,” while the Los Angeles Times reported Sheinbaum said “Everything indicates that this person had traits of psychological problems, and was influenced by episodes that have occurred” outside Mexico.

BBC

CNN also quoted Sheinbaum saying “We have never witnessed anything like this in Mexico before; it is the first time such an event has occurred,” and said she acknowledged the attacker entered because “archaeological sites don’t have security checkpoints.”

The BBC reported that Sheinbaum expressed solidarity and said she had instructed her security cabinet to investigate, quoting her Spanish post: “What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” and also said she was “following updates and was in touch with the Canadian embassy.”

In the immediate security response, CNN en Español said that “After the arrival of National Guard elements, the gunman fired at them, so they repelled the attack and injured the assailant in one leg,” and that “At 11:45 a.m., the attacker had taken his own life.”

CNN said Omar García Harfuch told reporters, “Following the president’s instructions, security will now also be strengthened at archaeological sites, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and other authorities, in matters related to the World Cup,” and added, “We are convinced that World Cup security is guaranteed.”

Internationally, Revista Punto de Vista San Luis reported that the governments of the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom issued travel advisories for citizens visiting Mexico, with emphasis on the Moon Pyramid archaeological zone.

Tourist accounts and reporting highlighted confusion and the lack of coordinated evacuation, while authorities described the response as rapid once security arrived.

“Footage of a gunman shooting at panicked tourists lying atop Mexico’s historic Pyramid of the Moon has renewed concerns about security in the country as it prepares to co-host millions of soccer fans for the World Cup this summer”

CNN

The BBC quoted a British couple describing chaotic scenes: “There was a big push and panic of everybody running at the same time to get out,” and said they saw “Gunfire was becoming louder and more frequent and people around us felt the same.”

CNN

The BBC also reported that the couple said there was “There was no coordinated evacuation whatsoever - we could see that there were officials running around, but none of them were telling anyone to leave,” and that they were “not subject to any security checks when entering the site, despite having a backpack with them.”

Al Jazeera described survivors’ experiences of the gunman firing as tourists descended, 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,” and said “Another group of visitors lay motionless on the pyramid’s platform to avoid being targeted.”

CNN en Español said that “An hour after the first report, the entire Teotihuacan archaeological site was already guarded by Mexican security agencies,” suggesting a broad perimeter was established after the initial response.

CNN en Español also said “Three minutes later, security agencies at the three levels of government—the National Guard, the SSEdoMex, and the municipal police—were aware of the situation,” and that “By 11:30 a.m., National Guard personnel had arrived.”

In contrast, Revista Punto de Vista San Luis described a different sequence, saying the attacker “entered the site armed without being detected and held dozens of visitors under threat for several minutes,” and that “The shooting lasted for several minutes without immediate intervention by authorities.”

The attack’s timing and the scale of injuries fed immediate concerns about Mexico’s ability to protect tourists as it prepares for the World Cup, with officials promising reinforcement at archaeological sites.

CNN said the shooting “shakes country weeks ahead of World Cup,” noting that “Five soccer matches are expected to be played in the capital city when the global tournament kicks off in July,” and that “Seven other foreign nationals – including two Americans – were wounded by gunshots.”

CNN also reported that Sheinbaum said “Following the president’s instructions, security will now also be strengthened at archaeological sites, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture and other authorities, in matters related to the World Cup,” and that Omar García Harfuch added, “We are convinced that World Cup security is guaranteed.”

The BBC said the incident came “with seven weeks to go before the first match of the Fifa World Cup is held in Mexico City,” and described Sheinbaum’s instruction to investigate and provide support.

ABC7 Los Angeles said the attack happened “less than two months before Mexico co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer tournament,” and reported García Harfuch’s plan for “ground forces and digital ‘cyber patrols’.”

Al Jazeera said Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote, “I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support,” and that “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 BBC also reported that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed condolences and said “Canada is working with Mexican authorities on the incident,” while the BBC noted that the woman’s identity had not yet been identified by authorities.