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A gunman opened fire Monday at a popular tourist site and important archaeological landmark in Mexico, killing at least one Canadian tourist and wounding several others.
The shooting occurred shortly after 11:30 a.m. local time at the Teotihuacán pyramids outside Mexico City. The suspect was found dead at the scene from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, officials said. The suspect has not been publicly identified, but a state official identified him to the Associated Press as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso from Mexico. At least 13 people were injured, with seven wounded by gunfire, according to Mexico’s security cabinet. Those injured were taken to hospitals.
“What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said in a post on X, adding that the Mexican government is in contact with the Canadian Embassy. “I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support.”
The pyramids are among Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations and have been proposed as the site of an immersive nighttime show during the FIFA World Cup this summer.
Here’s what to know about the shooting and how the country is grappling with security concerns ahead of the World Cup.
Canadian tourist shot dead
State and federal security forces responded to reports of gunshots at the archaeological site, according to Mexico State’s security ministry. Two people were found dead, “one of whom was likely the shooter,” the local security ministry said in a statement.
A Canadian woman was killed in the shooting, according to Mexico’s security cabinet. The woman has not been publicly identified.
At least 13 people were found injured either by gunfire or from falls and were transported to hospitals in the area, according to Mexico’s security cabinet. Eight remain hospitalized and five have been discharged as of early Tuesday.
Those wounded were identified by the security cabinet. Their ages range from 6 to 61. Seven of the 13 people were shot, including two Americans, two Colombians, one Canadian, one Russian, and one Brazilian. Of the remaining victims, four were Americans, one Brazilian, one Colombian, and one Dutch.
Based on videos circulating online, a man appeared to have opened fire from the Pyramid of the Moon. Tourists could be seen ducking from the gunfire at the bottom of the pyramid.
Laura Torres, a tourist from Guerrero, Mexico, told local media that she heard the gunfire as she was entering the site.
“I saw the guy shooting from up on the pyramid, and there were a lot of people there, he had people as hostages. After a short time I saw him let one person down, a girl,” Torres said. “For a moment I thought he was going to shoot her in the back, but no, thank God he let her go. Shortly after, he let another guy down, but the hostages were still there.”
Torres recalled hearing more than 20 gunshots. She saw a tourist “lying about halfway up the pyramid” who was shot.
“If I come here as a tourist, there should be protocols in place. The National Guard should be present because all kinds of tourists come here,” she said. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
Officials have not identified a motive for the attack but said the gunman acted alone.
“As a result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán, Mexico,” Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand posted on X. “My thoughts are with their family and loved ones, and Global Affairs consular officials are in touch to provide assistance.”
Security preparations ahead of World Cup
The shooting occurred amid Mexico’s preparations to welcome millions of fans to the World Cup soccer tournament this summer, which Mexico is jointly hosting alongside the U.S. and Canada.
In the first five months of last year, around 722,000 people visited Teotihuacán, making it Mexico’s second most popular archaeological site. The ancient city, marked by three colossal pyramids, is older than the Aztecs and was one of the cultural centers of Mesoamerica at its peak.
Earlier this month, Mexican officials proposed hosting an immersive nighttime show at Teotihuacán as part of World Cup celebrations. The government expects around 5.5 million fans to visit the country for the tournament.
The Mexican government already announced plans to beef up security across the country after cartel violence intensified after the killing of drug lord Nemesio Oseguero, also known as “El Mencho” earlier this year. Violence erupted in several cities in Mexico, with members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) setting cars and buildings on fire and patrolling streets with guns, following a Mexican military operation on Feb. 22 that killed the cartel’s leader. Dozens of people were killed in the operation and the ensuing violence.
The wave of cartel violence prompted concerns about traveling to Mexico from some soccer fans and players. Tourists described to TIME being stranded for days amid the clashes in late February. Guadalajara, the capital of Jalisco State where the CJNG primarily operates, is one of the host cities for the World Cup, along with Mexico City and Monterrey.
The government said it would deploy 100,000 security forces from the military, national security ministry, and private security firms ahead of the World Cup. The forces will be deployed across the country but especially in the three host cities. The government also said it will deploy more than 2,000 military vehicles, 24 aircraft, and 33 drones, and it will set up security perimeters around more crowded areas like airports and stadiums in the host cities.“As you can see, we are very prepared for the World Cup,” Sheinbaum said at a news conference in early March.
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