The Teotihuacan pyramids shooting left one Canadian woman dead and 13 other people injured on Monday after a gunman opened fire at one of Mexico’s best-known archaeological sites before killing himself, according to Mexican authorities and reporting from Reuters and The Associated Press. The attack happened at the Pyramid of the Moon, part of the Teotihuacan complex northeast of Mexico City.
Mexican authorities said the attacker was Julio Cesar Jasso, a 27-year-old Mexican man who acted alone. AP reported that officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition after the shooting, while Reuters reported that prosecutors identified the suspect as Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez. Authorities said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials said 13 people were injured in the attack. AP reported that seven people were wounded by gunfire, while the remaining injuries were not fully detailed but came as panic spread through the site. Reuters reported that those hurt included foreign nationals from the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil and Canada, and that at least one young boy was shot in the leg. AP said the injured taken to hospitals included six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians and one Canadian, ranging in age from 6 to 61.
Teotihuacan pyramids shooting unfolds at major tourist site
The shooting began shortly after 11 a.m. local time at the Pyramid of the Moon, one of the most visited structures in the Teotihuacan complex. Reuters reported that a witness had just come down from the mezzanine when they heard popping sounds and saw visitors stampeding. AP reported that the attack took place while dozens of tourists were at the top of the pyramid.
Witness accounts described confusion and panic in the first moments. Reuters reported that the gunman appeared to remain on the mezzanine and fired many shots into the air while shouting and carrying a digital tablet. AP, citing a local tour guide at the scene, reported that the shooter fired as tourists began trying to descend the pyramid steps. Video and photos published by local media showed a man standing on top of the structure with a gun while people ducked for cover.
The scene became more chaotic as visitors tried to get off the structure and away from the gunfire. AP reported that some people threw themselves to the ground while others rushed down the pyramid. A Canadian tourist from Vancouver told CTV News, as quoted by AP, that there were thousands of people at the site and many gunshots in quick succession. Reuters reported that bystanders, including people with medical training, tried to help the wounded with water bottles and clean cloths until paramedics arrived.
Authorities have not publicly identified a motive. Mexico’s Security Secretary Cristobal Castaneda said he did not want to speculate and that the investigation was continuing. What authorities have confirmed is narrower: the gunman acted alone, tourists from several countries were caught in the attack, and the site was quickly locked down after the shooting.
Victims came from several countries
The victim killed was identified publicly only as a Canadian woman. Canada’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, said on X that one Canadian was killed and another wounded in what she called a horrific act of gun violence, and that Canadian officials were in contact to provide assistance. Reuters also reported that a second Canadian was injured.
Mexican authorities gave a broad picture of the injured. AP reported that six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians and one Canadian were taken to hospitals for treatment. Reuters reported that among those treated were three Colombians, one of them a 6-year-old child, as well as U.S., Russian and Brazilian nationals. The reporting from both outlets makes clear that the victims were overwhelmingly foreign visitors at one of Mexico’s most internationally recognized historical attractions.
Some of the injuries came directly from gunfire, while others appear to have happened as people fled. AP reported that local officials said seven people suffered gunshot wounds, but did not fully break down the rest. The confusion of the scene, with people running down steep steps and dropping to the ground to avoid being hit, likely contributed to the non-gunshot injuries.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said she had instructed Mexico’s Security Cabinet to investigate thoroughly and provide support to the victims and their families. AP reported that Sheinbaum also said she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy. Later, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson expressed concern over the deaths and injuries and said the United States was ready to provide support as Mexican authorities continued their investigation.
Security questions follow rare attack
The shooting is unusual not because Mexico lacks gun violence, but because it happened at one of the country’s most important tourist and cultural sites. Reuters noted that while shootings linked to cartel violence are common in parts of Mexico, violence at major tourist attractions is rare. That is likely to intensify scrutiny of security procedures at archaeological sites and heritage destinations, especially with Mexico preparing to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Canada.
AP reported that one local guide said the archaeological site had previously used security scans before entry but no longer does. That detail is likely to draw attention as investigators and government officials review how an armed man was able to get onto a pyramid platform carrying a gun, knife and ammunition. Authorities have not yet publicly explained how he entered the site with weapons.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said the Teotihuacan archaeological site would remain closed until further notice. That response reflects both the scale of the crime scene and the sensitivity of the location. Teotihuacan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Mexico’s most visited destinations. Reuters reported that it received about 1.8 million visitors last year, while AP similarly described it as one of the country’s most important tourist sites.
Why Teotihuacan matters
Teotihuacan was one of the most important urban and cultural centers in pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica. Its monumental pyramids, broad ceremonial avenues and archaeological remains make it a defining symbol of Mexico’s ancient past. That is part of what made Monday’s shooting so shocking. The attack did not happen at an isolated roadside stop or in a cartel stronghold. It happened in a place associated with world heritage, school trips and international tourism.
That context will matter in the days ahead. Mexico’s government is now dealing not only with a criminal investigation but also with the diplomatic and reputational consequences of a deadly attack involving foreign tourists at a landmark site. Canadian officials are already involved because of the death of one citizen and the injury of another. U.S., Colombian, Brazilian and Russian nationals were also among those hurt, giving the case an immediate international dimension.
For now, the key facts are established. A lone Mexican gunman opened fire at the Pyramid of the Moon on Monday, killing a Canadian woman, injuring 13 other people and then taking his own life. What remains unresolved is why he did it, how he was able to bring weapons into the site, and whether Mexico changes security at major heritage locations after one of the rarest kinds of attacks the country has seen at a tourist destination.
