An armed man opened fire on tourists at Teotihuacán's Pyramid of the Moon on April 20, killing a Canadian woman and injuring six others. The attacker took hostages before taking his own life, authorities said. The archaeological site was evacuated and closed following the incident.
The attack took place on Monday, April 20, at the Teotihuacán archaeological zone in Mexico State. A man wearing jeans, a plaid shirt, and a face mask climbed the Pyramid of the Moon and fired a short firearm at visitors, according to witnesses and officials.
Laura Torres, a tourist from Taxco, Guerrero, described hearing detonations she initially mistook for fireworks. "I saw the guy shooting from the top of the pyramid. There were people like hostages," she told media. She said the attacker released one hostage and allowed another injured person to descend midway.
The Security Cabinet confirmed the man took his own life after the shooting. There was one fatality, a Canadian woman, and six injured: four by gunshot and two from falls, with nationalities Canadian, Colombian, and Russian. One remains in critical condition and was airlifted; others went to a hospital in Axapusco.
Cristóbal Castañeda Camarillo, Mexico State Security Secretary, said it "seems like a direct aggression, but we cannot speculate." The Mexican Army and National Guard evacuated the site, which is now secured.
President Claudia Sheinbaum offered solidarity to the victims and contacted the Canadian embassy. "I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these facts," she posted on X.
