Mexican authorities say attack that killed Canadian tourist at pyramids was ‘not spontaneous’

A Canadian woman has died, and several other people are injured after a shooting at Mexico’s Teotihuacán pyramids.

Mexican authorities say they are investigating the motive behind the gunman who killed a Canadian tourist and left 13 others injured at the Teotihuacán pyramids on Monday.

In a press conference on Tuesday, authorities said the attack was not “spontaneous” and that the gunman, identified as Julio Cesar Jasso, had stayed at hotels in the area prior to the shooting in order to get close to the site.

This is a developing story. Previous reporting by The Canadian Press follows below.

MEXICO CITY — An armed man standing atop one of the historic Teotihuacán pyramids opened fire on tourists Monday, killing one Canadian and leaving at least 13 people injured at the archeological site north of Mexico’s capital, authorities said.

The shooter was identified as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso of Mexico, a state official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the case.

Jasso later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition. Jasso was the sole assailant in the attack, the State of Mexico government confirmed late Monday.

• Witness describes chaos during Mexico shooting that left one Canadian dead

The local government said seven people were wounded by gunshots. How the other people were injured was not disclosed. Those taken to hospitals included six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians and one Canadian, the government said.

The Security Cabinet of Mexico says in a social media post that the Canadian taken to hospital was 29-year-old Delicia Li de Yong. It says she was shot in the upper back.

“As a result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacan, Mexico,” Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, said in a social media post. “My thoughts are with their family and loved ones.”

Video and photos published by local news organizations show a man, later identified as Jasso, standing with a gun on top of one pyramid while people ducked for cover. A number of gunshots rang out.

The shooting happened before noon when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.

A man standing on the structure’s platform began firing upward, according to a tour guide who was at the scene and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.

“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, recounting how the shooter began firing when he saw tourists descending the pyramid’s steps.

Another group of visitors lay motionless on the platform to avoid being targeted by the shooter.

Police officers providing security at the archeological ruins responded, followed shortly after by a National Guard unit.

In past years, staff at the archeological site carried out security scans before people entered the area but have since stopped.

The guide showed a video that he took showing a woman limping and her back covered in blood and another man’s arm being bandaged.

A local health authority said a child was among the wounded but that there were no serious injuries. One person received help for an anxiety attack.

“What happened today in Teotihuacan deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media.

She said the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy.

Cameron MacKay, the Canadian ambassador to Mexico, said in a social media post he was deeply saddened by the shooting. “My sincere condolences to their family and loved ones.”

The Teotihuacan pyramids are a series of massive structures on the outskirts of Mexico City built by three different ancient civilizations. One of Mexico’s most important touristic destinations, the site drew more than 1.8 million international visitors last year, according to government figures.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 20, 2026.

By The Associated Press and The Canadian Press