A 32-year-old Canadian woman was fatally shot at Teotihuacán, one of Mexico's most visited archaeological sites, on Tuesday, with several other tourists injured in the attack. The gunman, who opened fire from the Pyramid of the Moon, subsequently killed himself. Authorities have not released his identity or established a motive for the shooting.
The attack
According to BBC World News, State Security Secretary Cristóbal Castañeda Camarillo confirmed that those injured included two Colombian nationals, a Russian citizen, and a Canadian. Police recovered a firearm, a bladed weapon, and live cartridges at the scene. Canada's foreign minister, Anita Anand, confirmed that one Canadian had been killed and another wounded.
Eyewitness accounts painted a chaotic picture. An unnamed British couple at the site described the moment the situation deteriorated:
"Gunfire was becoming louder and more frequent and people around us felt the same, because a couple of people shouted things like, 'They're coming this way,' which created quite a lot of panic."
The couple also described a disorganised response from officials on the ground.
"There was no coordinated evacuation whatsoever — we could see that there were officials running around, but none of them were telling anyone to leave."They added:
"There was a big push and panic of everybody running at the same time to get out."
Reflecting on their escape, the couple acknowledged the gravity of the day's events:
"I think, fundamentally we are the lucky ones — someone lost their life today."
Government response
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded swiftly, instructing her security cabinet to investigate the incident and expressing her condolences on social media.
"What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families."
World Cup context
The shooting comes less than two months before Mexico hosts the opening match of the FIFA World Cup. The tournament's first game is scheduled for 11 June in Mexico City, where the host nation faces South Africa. In preparation for the tournament, Mexico has announced plans to deploy nearly 100,000 security personnel across venues and host cities.
Teotihuacán, an ancient pre-Aztec city and Unesco World Heritage Site located roughly 50 kilometres northeast of Mexico City, is among the country's most prominent cultural landmarks. While cartel-related violence remains a serious concern across parts of Mexico, attacks on tourists at major archaeological sites are considered rare.
