Police officers and forensic experts secure the area where a shooting occurred at the Teotihuacan archaeological site in Mexico on Monday. One tourist was killed and 13 wounded. The gunman died of a self-inflicted wound. Photo by Madla Hartz/EPA
Mexican authorities have identified Julio César Jasso Ramírez as the man who opened fire Monday at the Teotihuacan pyramids, killing one woman and himself. Thirteen others were either shot or injured in the chaos.
The investigation into the motive and possible security failures continues after the attack about 30 miles northeast of Mexico City. The dead tourist was a 32-year-old Canadian, authorities said.
Witnesses at the site said Jasso Ramírez, a 27-year-old Mexican national, took hostages during the incident but released them, according to local media reports.
Accounts gathered by Mexican outlet Milenio said the attacker was wearing a black T-shirt with the phrase “Disconnect and self destruct” at the time of the shooting. He also was carrying an image generated with artificial intelligence depicting the attacker alongside Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado.
Abr 20, 2026 | 9:00 pm | Teotihuacan | De acuerdo con la INE encontrada en sus pertenencias, el tirador se llama Julio Cesar Jasso Ramírez, de 28 años, nacido en el entonces DF y con domicilio en Ticomán, Gustavo A. Madero. Su playera ha despertado recuerdos de Columbine en 1999. pic.twitter.com/UX8GdICoUz— EdoMex Informativo (@EdoMexInf) April 21, 2026
According to the Mexican outlet Bajo Palabra, the attacker had shared content on social media referencing Adolf Hitler and published images and content related to mass shootings. Reports noted the shooting date coincided with Hitler’s birthday and the anniversary of the Columbine massacre, local media Azteca Sinaloa said.
Other videos appeared to show the gunman positioned on an upper level of the Pyramid of the Moon, one of the site’s main structures, firing multiple rounds as visitors took cover on the ground.
“I was walking in when I heard the shots. At first I thought they were fireworks, but then I realized they were gunshots,” Laura Torres Cano, a visitor from Taxco, told local media, according to BBC Mundo.
Torres said the attacker allowed some people to leave the area.
“He had people as hostages,” she said, adding that at least two were later released.
Another witness, Edgar Pérez, a maintenance worker at the site, described the panic among staff and visitors.
“We got scared. I told my coworkers, ‘Let’s see where we can go,’ and we ran down,” he told Spain’s El País.
In videos circulating on social media, the attacker is heard shouting at hostages in Spanish, saying, “You who came from Europe are not going back. If you move, I will kill you. This was built for sacrifice, not for you to come and take photos.”
Authorities said the number of injured stands at 13. The victims include tourists of multiple nationalities, including Americans, Canadians, Colombians, Brazilians and a Russian.
The incident occurred around midday at one of Mexico’s most visited tourist destinations, which receives nearly 2 million visitors annually.
The attack has raised questions about security protocols at major tourist sites, particularly as Mexico prepares to host matches for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday that surveillance at archaeological sites will be reinforced, including the implementation of X-ray screening and monitoring of social media activity.
“There have never been security screening checkpoints at archaeological sites because nothing like this had ever happened before,” Sheinbaum said at her morning press confeence.
Authorities said a firearm, a bladed weapon and ammunition were recovered at the scene. The Mexican Attorney General’s Office has opened an investigation, and officials have not yet confirmed a motive.
President Claudia Sheinbaum said Monday that the government remains in contact with the Canadian embassy and reiterated support for the victims and their families.
