Woman Killed in Horror Shooting at Tourist Hotspot

A dream trip to one of Mexico’s most famous tourist attractions turned into a blood-soaked nightmare after a gunman opened fire at the Teotihuacán pyramids, killing a Canadian woman, wounding another Canadian and several other tourists, then taking his own life.

The shocking violence erupted Monday at the ancient archaeological site just outside Mexico City, a place known around the world for its towering pyramids and heavy tourist traffic. Instead of a peaceful day of sightseeing, visitors were suddenly sent scrambling for safety as gunfire rang out across one of Mexico’s most visited landmarks.

Authorities said the shooter, identified by local prosecutors as Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, was a Mexican national. Officials said he killed a Canadian woman whose name has not yet been released and injured multiple others, including 26-year-old Canadian Felicia Lee. Among the wounded were also a 6-year-old Colombian child, two other Colombians ages 37 and 22, a 55-year-old Dutch national and a 42-year-old Russian.

As the chaos unfolded, tourists described a scene of pure panic.

Ontario resident Daniel Edwards said he and his wife had just come down from the same pyramid where the gunman was positioned when they heard screaming. He said he looked up and saw the man with a gun pointed in the air as terrified visitors rushed down the steep stone steps trying to escape.

“My tour guide just looked at me and said, ‘Run,’” Edwards told CBC.

Another Canadian tourist, Brenda Lee of Vancouver, said she and a group of friends were standing near a vendor when they heard what they first thought were fireworks. That confusion vanished fast.

“Somebody asked, ‘Was that gunfire?’” Lee said. “And the vendor said: ‘Yes, that’s gunfire — run.’”

She said her group bolted toward the parking lot as fear spread through the site.

Reports later Monday suggested the number of victims may have been even higher than first believed. According to The Associated Press, local government information indicated that at least 13 people were injured, including six Americans and two Brazilians, with seven of the injuries caused by gunfire.

That raised even more questions about how a heavily armed attacker was able to unleash that kind of mayhem at one of Mexico’s biggest tourist attractions.

Mexican authorities said the area was later brought under control and the investigation is ongoing. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was in contact with the Canadian Embassy and expressed solidarity with the victims and their families.

Canadian officials also responded publicly. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said consular officials were in contact to assist, while Canada’s ambassador to Mexico, Cameron MacKay, said he was deeply saddened and offered condolences to the victims’ loved ones.

But the deadly shooting is likely to intensify already serious concerns about safety in Mexico, especially as the country prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with the United States and Canada. With millions of foreign visitors expected to travel through the region, security at tourist hotspots is now under an even harsher spotlight.

Teotihuacán is not some remote destination. It is one of Mexico’s most famous historic sites and welcomed roughly 1.8 million visitors last year. The idea that gunfire could erupt there in broad daylight is exactly the kind of story that will rattle travelers on both sides of the border.

Global Affairs Canada already warns travelers to exercise a high degree of caution in Mexico because of high levels of criminal activity and kidnapping. After Monday’s horror, that warning feels less like routine travel advice and more like a flashing red alarm.

What should have been a memorable visit to one of the ancient world’s great wonders instead became another grim reminder that even major tourist destinations are not insulated from the violence that continues to haunt parts of Mexico.