A Canadian woman was killed and 13 others injured on Monday when a gunman opened fire at Mexico’s world‑famous Teotihuacan archaeological site, authorities confirmed. The attacker, whose nationality has not been identified, died by suicide moments after the shooting, according to Cristobal Castaneda, security secretary for Mexico state.
Six people suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to nearby hospitals including a Canadian woman, a Colombian woman and child, a Brazilian citizen and two Americans. Seven more were injured while fleeing, among them a Russian, a Colombian, a Brazilian and four Americans.
The midday attack shocked visitors at one of Mexico’s most iconic pre‑Hispanic sites, coming less than two months before the 2026 World Cup begins across Mexico, the United States and Canada. AFPTV footage showed a body wrapped in a white sheet being carried down the steps of the pyramid.
Authorities recovered a firearm, a knife and unused ammunition at the scene and evacuated tourists from the complex.
Teotihuacan more than 2,000 years old and visited by over 1.8 million people in 2025 is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its monumental pyramids and the Avenue of the Dead. The shooting took place on the Pyramid of the Moon, a 45‑metre‑high structure that visitors are allowed to climb.
Videos circulating online showed the gunman firing from halfway up the pyramid as tourists ducked behind stone steps or ran for safety. Federal police and the national guard were deployed immediately after the attack.
Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand condemned the incident as “a horrific act of gun violence,” while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for a full investigation and dispatched officials to assist victims. “What happened today in Teotihuacan deeply pains us,” she wrote on X.
Although Mexico struggles with drug‑related violence, mass shootings at tourist sites are extremely rare. The country expects more than 5.5 million visitors during the World Cup in June.
American tourist Anna Durmont, 37, told AFP she was approaching the pyramid when she noticed emergency vehicles. “It actually felt extremely calm,” she said, adding she had not heard gunfire.
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