A gunman who fatally shot a Canadian tourist and wounded more than a dozen others atop a historic pyramid in Mexico on Monday has been identified, officials said.
Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso, a Mexican national, according to a state official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Jasso later died by suicide after turning the gun on himself, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition. Authorities said he acted alone, with the Mexican state government confirming on Monday night that he was the sole attacker.
Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were injured in the chaos as people rushed to get off the pyramids, some falling during the panic.
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The Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun are seen along with smaller structures along the Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, Mexico, on March 19, 2020. A gunman killed a Canadian tourist and injured several others before killing himself at the popular site, authorities said Monday. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Those hospitalized included tourists from several countries, including the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil and Canada, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 6 to 61 years old.
In images circulating in local media, the suspect appears to have been positioned on top of the structure as visitors rushed down to safety as gunshots echoed across the site.
Police and forensics personnel stand on a pyramid after authorities said a gunman opened fire in Teotihuacan, Mexico, on Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
The Teotihuacan complex, just outside Mexico City, is one of the country’s most visited archaeological monuments, drawing millions of international visitors every year to its towering pre-Hispanic structures.
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The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 am when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
According to a local guide, security measures at the site have changed in recent years, with routine checks on entry no longer taking place consistently.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in contact with the Canadian embassy.
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“What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” she wrote.
Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign minister, said on
People visit the Pyramid of the Sun in the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan near Mexico City, Mexico, on March 21, 2024, after the vernal equinox. (Henry Romero/Reuters)
Later in the evening, US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson also expressed “deep concern” and sadness over the deaths and countless injuries, saying in a message on X that the US “stands ready to provide support as needed as Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”
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The National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement that the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
