Canadian tourist killed, 13 injured in shooting at Teotihuacan pyramid complex

A Canadian woman was killed and 13 others injured in a shooting on Monday at Teotihuacan, one of Mexico’s most iconic archaeological sites, authorities said.

The attacker, whose nationality has not been identified, opened fire at the popular tourist destination before taking his own life, according to Cristobal Castaneda, security secretary for Mexico state, where the site is located.

Six people sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to local hospitals. Among them were a Canadian woman, a Colombian woman and child, a Brazilian national, and two Americans. Another seven people were hurt in the panic that followed and were treated at the scene, including a Russian, a Colombian, a Brazilian, and four Americans.

The midday shooting shocked visitors at the historic site, which lies about 50 kilometers from Mexico City and draws millions of tourists each year. The incident comes less than two months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Mexico, the United States, and Canada.

Footage from the scene showed a body wrapped in a white sheet being carried down the steps of one of the pyramids. Authorities recovered a firearm, a knife, and unused ammunition, and evacuated visitors from the complex.

Dating back more than 2,000 years, Teotihuacan attracted over 1.8 million visitors in 2025, according to tourism officials. The site is renowned for its massive pyramids and the Avenue of the Dead.

Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand described the attack as “a horrific act of gun violence.” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for a full investigation and said federal personnel had been deployed to assist.

The shooting took place on the Pyramid of the Moon, a 45-meter-high structure that visitors can climb via steep stone steps. Videos circulating on social media appeared to show the gunman firing from midway up the pyramid as tourists scrambled for cover.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site of “outstanding universal value,” Teotihuacan’s monuments were built between the first and seventh centuries during the pre-Hispanic Classic period, a high point of Mesoamerican civilization.

Although Mexico continues to grapple with drug-related violence, indiscriminate mass shootings remain relatively rare, particularly at major tourist sites.