MEXICO CITY — An armed man standing atop the Pyramid of the Moon at the Teotihuacan archaeological site opened fire on tourists Monday, killing one Canadian and injuring at least 13 people, authorities said.
The shooter was later identified as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso of Mexico, a state official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Jasso died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said. Security officials recovered a gun, a knife and ammunition. The State of Mexico government confirmed Jasso was the sole assailant.
The local government said seven people were wounded by gunshots; how the others were injured was not specified, though several people fell while trying to flee or while climbing the pyramids. Those taken to hospitals included six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians and one Canadian. Mexican authorities said the injured ranged in age from 6 to 61.
Video and photos published by local media showed a man standing with a gun on top of a pyramid as people ducked for cover and a number of gunshots could be heard. The shooting occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon. A tour guide at the scene told the AP that the shooter initially fired upward and then continued shooting as people descended the pyramid’s steps.
“Some people, because they were scared … threw themselves face down on the ground, and the rest of us started to go down,” the guide said. Another group of visitors lay motionless on the platform to avoid being targeted. Brenda Lee of Vancouver, British Columbia, told CTV News she and others initially mistook the sounds for firecrackers before realizing it was gunfire and seeing people coming off the top. She described the scene as chaotic, saying many shots “just kept coming” and recounting that someone jumped between levels in an attempt to escape.
The Teotihuacan pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the outskirts of Mexico City, are a major tourist destination built by ancient civilizations; the site drew more than 1.8 million international visitors last year, government figures show. A local guide noted that in past years staff carried out security scans before people entered the area but that such checks have since stopped.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting will be investigated and that she was in contact with the Canadian Embassy, expressing solidarity with the affected individuals and families. Canada’s foreign affairs minister, Anita Anand, said on X that a Canadian was killed and another wounded and extended condolences. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson expressed “deep concern” and said the U.S. is ready to provide support as Mexican authorities continue their investigation.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said the Teotihuacan archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.