Mexican authorities have disclosed additional information regarding the shooting incident at the Teotihuacán pyramids that resulted in the death of a Canadian woman and injuries to 13 other individuals. The victim, who remains unidentified, was one of eight people shot by a lone gunman at the popular tourist destination in Mexico. Of the seven others injured, six have been discharged from the hospital, as stated by Cristóbal Castañeda Camarillo, the security secretary for Mexico state, during a press briefing held this morning with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum present.
The wounded individuals include another Canadian, as well as citizens from the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil, and the Netherlands. Among the injured were a six-year-old boy and a 13-year-old. Sheinbaum expressed solidarity with the deceased victim and all those hospitalized or affected by the incident, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed appreciation for Sheinbaum’s personal involvement in addressing the tragedy, extending condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and acknowledging the somber nature of the event. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand affirmed that Global Affairs is closely coordinating with Mexican authorities and examining various aspects of the bilateral relationship, ruling out cartel involvement in the shooting.
During a news conference in Mexico City, government officials revealed that the perpetrator was in possession of 52 special caliber cartridges in a plastic bag during the shooting. Additionally, pamphlets related to a past U.S. shooting incident from April 1999 were found in the assailant’s backpack. The shooting coincided with the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre in Colorado, where two students fatally shot 13 classmates and a teacher.
Efforts to trace the origin of the .38-caliber firearm utilized in the Teotihuacán shooting led investigators to consult the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which confirmed no record of the weapon dating back to 1968. The assailant, identified as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, was confronted and subdued by armed National Guard members after the first report of the incident at the archaeological site north of Mexico City.
The injured individuals’ exact circumstances were not fully clarified, but it was noted that many had fallen during the chaos, with some even climbing the pyramids when the shooting commenced. Lynne Forbes, a visitor from Vancouver present during the incident, described the chaotic scene of people fleeing the pyramid as news of the shooter spread.
Teotihuacán pyramids, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stand as monumental structures on the outskirts of Mexico City, constructed by ancient civilizations. A pivotal tourist attraction in Mexico, the site welcomed over 1.8 million international visitors last year, underscoring its significance. President Sheinbaum announced plans to reopen the site with enhanced security measures on Wednesday.