MEXICO CITY — A gunman opened fire Monday from a pyramid at the famous Mexican archaeological site of Teotihuacán, killing a Canadian tourist and wounding six other people. At least seven other people were injured as tourists tried to escape the gunfire.
The shooter later took his own life, authorities said.
Among the injured are six US citizens, one of them a 61-year-old woman, as well as a 6-year-old Colombian child and two other Colombian citizens. Two Brazilians, a Russian and a Canadian were also injured.
At least six of the wounded suffered gunshot wounds, authorities said, while others were apparently injured in falls while trying to escape. There was no immediate information on the conditions of the injured, all of whom were being treated at area hospitals, authorities said.
Several Mexican media outlets, citing law enforcement sources, identified the attacker as a 27-year-old Mexico City resident who had expressed admiration for Hitler and the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado in 1999. Monday's attack occurred on April 20, Hitler's birthday and also the anniversary of the Columbine attack.
However, there was no official confirmation of the identity of the shooter or any information about his life. Authorities also did not comment Monday night on his motivation.
Cellphone images circulating in Mexican media showed a man in a plaid shirt appearing to brandish a gun from his position near the top of the Pyramid of the Moon as visitors took shelter at the foot of the historic structure, while others sought safety in the upper levels of the 140-foot-tall pyramid.
Some tourists trying to escape attempted to rush down the steep stairs or jumped to the lower levels of the pyramid, according to images circulating on the Internet and social media.
“Call the police!” It was the scream of a woman in a scene that circulates on social networks.
A gun, bullets and a knife were recovered at the scene, said police in the State of Mexico, where the pyramid complex is located. Mexican media reported that the shooter was wearing tactical boots and pants.
The incident took place shortly before noon.
There was no immediate information on the identities of the perpetrator or the Canadian citizen who died. There was also no immediate indication of a motive.
Mexican authorities said they were treating the wounded at area medical centers and investigating what was behind the shooting.
The incident comes as Mexico prepares to host this summer's World Cup soccer extravaganza.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has repeatedly said that Mexico has a security plan for soccer matches, despite ongoing outbreaks of violence in the country.
On Monday, Sheinbaum lamented the pyramid shooting.
“What happened today in Teotihuacán hurts us deeply,” Sheinbaum wrote in a post on X. “I express my deepest condolences to those affected and their families.”
After the shooting, authorities described the sprawling archaeological zone, one of Mexico's most visited tourist sites, as quiet and under control. The site, located northeast of Mexico City, is among the main Mesoamerican archaeological zones and was visited by 1.8 million people last year.
Special correspondent Liliana Nieto del Río contributed to this report.
