One Dead, 13 Injured In Deadly Shooting At Teotihuacán Pyramids

A visit to the pyramids of Teotihuacán in Mexico turned violent on Monday when a man opened fire on tourists from the Pyramid of the Moon, killing a Canadian woman and injuring at least 13 others, according to Mexican authorities. The attack unfolded at one of the country's most heavily visited archaeological sites, a place usually associated with long views, stone steps, and steady streams of international visitors.

Mexican officials identified the shooter as 27-year-old Julio César Jasso Ramírez. Authorities said he later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after the attack. Security officials added that he was found with a firearm, a knife, and ammunition, and the Mexican government said he acted alone.

The violence appears to have been planned. José Luis Cervantes Martínez, the attorney general for Mexico State, told reporters that Ramírez made multiple preliminary visits to the site, stayed in nearby hotels beforehand, and prepared the assault in advance. That account matched security officials' description of the shooting as a deliberate act rather than a spontaneous outburst.

Video and images published by Mexican media showed a man firing into the crowd as visitors scrambled for cover. A guide told Euronews that people threw themselves face down on the ground before beginning to descend the pyramid's steps. A Canadian eyewitness described thousands of people rushing to escape, turning a site known for its ceremonial scale into a scene of confusion and fear.

Local authorities said seven people sustained gunshot wounds, though they did not specify how the remaining injuries occurred. Several others were reported to have fallen during the panic, including some who had been climbing the pyramid. Those taken to hospitals included six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians, and one Canadian. The youngest injured person was 6; the oldest was 61.

The attack has already prompted a political response. On Tuesday, President Claudia Sheinbaum called for stricter gun control at tourist sites, saying security must ensure that firearms cannot enter archaeological areas. Her remarks came in Mexico City, which is weeks away from hosting several matches for this summer's FIFA World Cup.

Teotihuacán has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Built by successive Indigenous civilizations, the complex draws more than 1.8 million international visitors each year, making Monday's shooting a jarring breach in a place defined by history, scale, and public access.

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