Mexico, shooting by Teotihuacán's Pyramid of the Moon: tourist dead, 13 injured

An armed attack inside the archaeological site of Teotihuacán, among Mexico’s major tourist hubs, left two people dead and at least 13 wounded. The incident, as reported by the El País news outlet, occurred on Monday, April 20 in the area of the Pyramid of the Moon, one of the most impressive structures in the pre-Columbian complex, dating from between 100 and 650 AD. The victims include a Canadian tourist, who was hit by bullets fired by a man standing on top of the pyramid.

According to authorities and as reported by the newspaper, the bomber has been identified as Julio César N., a 27-year-old Mexican national residing in Mexico City’s Gustavo A. Madero delegation. The man allegedly opened fire with a weapon at visitors in the plaza in front of the pyramid, which was frequented by hundreds of tourists at the time. The final tally includes, in addition to the Canadian victim, the attacker himself, who died of gunshot wounds. The circumstances of his death remain subject to verification: some versions point to suicide, while the National Guard confirmed (to the El País news outlet) that he was shot during the intervention without clarifying whether any of the shots reached him.

The attack began shortly after noon in the northern part of the archaeological complex, which has registered about 1.8 million visitors over the past year, making it the second most visited site in the country after Chichén Itzá. Witness accounts and videos circulated on social media show the man wandering in a state of agitation on one of the platforms of the Pyramid of the Moon, some 43 meters high. Shortly thereafter he allegedly pulled a gun from a bag and began shooting toward the crowd below.

Video footage documents moments of panic among visitors, many of whom lay on the ground in the Plaza de la Luna to take cover from the shots. Others sought shelter along the structure’s stairs. Some witnesses shouted for officers to intervene as the suspect tried to get away by climbing to the top of the monument. The arrival of law enforcement officers, including National Guard units armed with high-powered rifles, marked the final stages of the incident.

As the newspaper reports, the death toll includes people of different nationalities. Those shot include a 13-year-old Brazilian girl; a six-year-old Colombian boy, who was hit by two bullets to the shin and fibula, and his 37-year-old mother, who was wounded in the knee and buttock; a 29-year-old Canadian citizen; a 31-year-old Russian man; and two U.S. citizens, ages 29 and 61. In addition to the gunshot wounded, there are people with fall injuries, including fractures and grazes sustained while escaping down the pyramid stairs, and at least one case of anxiety attacks. Health services initially transferred most of the injured to Axapusco General Hospital, located about ten kilometers from the site, before proceeding with further transfers to specialized facilities and private clinics in the capital. According to authorities in the State of Mexico, seven of the 13 wounded suffered gunshot wounds. A gun, an edged weapon and several bullets were seized at the scene of the attack.

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo ordered an investigation through federal security forces and expressed condolences for the victim, confirming contact with the Canadian Embassy. The governor of the State of Mexico, Delfina Gómez, also expressed condolences for the victims and confirmed that the State Security Secretariat will maintain a constant presence in the area. From Canada, Foreign Minister Anita Anand condemned the incident, calling it a serious act of armed violence and said consular staff are in contact with the victim’s family members.

“What happened today in Teotihuacán grieves us deeply. I express my most sincere solidarity with those affected and their families,” Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo wrote on X. “We are in contact with the Canadian Embassy. I have instructed the Security Cabinet to fully investigate these events and provide all necessary information.”

“Following a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian citizen was killed and another was injured in Teotihuacán, Mexico,” Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand wrote on X. “My thoughts are with their family and loved ones, and consular officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in contact to provide assistance. I thank my counterpart, Minister @r_velascoa, for staying in close contact and responding to this situation in a timely manner.”

Local authorities received initial reports through an emergency call, activating coordination among several security agencies. The Secretary of Security of the State of Mexico, Cristóbal Castañeda, held a press conference directly from the site, noting the presence of numerous foreign tourists among the injured. The Ministry of Culture has ordered the temporary closure of the archaeological complex until further notice.

“The Security Cabinet,” the Cabinet states through its X page, “informs that, following reports of gunshots inside the archaeological area ofTeotihuacán, in the State of Mexico, a joint intervention was activated with Edomex Special Forces (@SS_Edomex) and the National Guard (@GN_MEXICO_) to manage the emergency. According to initial reports, a man reportedly opened fire at the scene and then took his own life. The provisional toll indicates one victim, a woman of Canadian nationality, and several injured, who are currently being cared for by medical personnel. In the course of operations, authorities seized a firearm, a stabbing weapon and several cartridges. The Security Cabinet also confirmed that investigations have begun to clarify the dynamics of the events, while security and civil defense personnel (@SEGOB_mx), in coordination with the state government, are engaged in assisting those involved. Further updates are expected.”

The incident brings attention back to the safety conditions of one of Mexico’s main symbols of historical heritage. Less than a year ago, theNational Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) had partially reopened access to the Pyramid of the Moon, limiting access to the first level after conservation work. Since 2020, access to the main structures, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, had been restricted for conservation reasons. This is not the first critical event recorded in the area in recent years. In 2024, a visitor had been attacked by other tourists for violating the ban on climbing the pyramid. The previous year, an incident involving a tourist hot air balloon killed two people and injured a minor.

Mexico, shooting by Teotihuacán's Pyramid of the Moon: tourist dead, 13 injured

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