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Mexico Identifies Teotihuacan Pyramid Gunman Who Killed Canadian Tourist

Mexican authorities identified the gunman who killed a Canadian tourist at Teotihuacan as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso. The attack occurred at the Teotihuacan archaeological site, with witnesses saying he fired from atop the Pyramid of the Moon as tourists fled. Authorities say Jasso acted alone and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound; officers recovered a gun, a knife and ammunition.

Officials say one Canadian tourist was killed and at least 13 people were injured, including six Americans, three Colombians, two Brazilians, one Russian and another Canadian. Injuries range from children to older adults, with victims reported between 6 and 61 years old and some hurt by falls while trying to flee. Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History closed the site until further notice and President Claudia Sheinbaum said the shooting will be investigated. Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand posted on X confirming one Canadian dead and one wounded, while U.S. Ambassador Ronald Johnson said the U.S. stands ready to assist. Local guides told reporters that security scans used to be routine at Teotihuacan but are no longer consistently in place, a detail that may reshape debates about site safety.

Early accounts focused on a chaotic shooting and unclear motive, offering few details about the attacker or his status after the incident. Updated stories from NPR and later Fox News provided identification, casualty breakdowns, evidence recovered and confirmation that the assailant died by suicide, shifting the public picture toward a single-perpetrator attack. The evolving coverage also highlighted conversations on social media, including Canadian officials' posts on X, and renewed scrutiny over why routine security checks were relaxed.

International Public Safety Mexico Security and Tourism Mass Shootings Abroad U.S. Tourists and Travel Safety Mass Shootings and Public Safety
This story is compiled from 3 sources using AI-assisted curation and analysis. Original reporting is attributed below. Learn about our methodology.

📌 Key Facts

  • Authorities identified the shooter as 27-year-old Mexican national Julio Cesar Jasso, who acted alone and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
  • Security officials recovered a gun, a knife and ammunition from the shooter.
  • Casualties: one Canadian was killed and at least 13 people were injured — including six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians and one Canadian — with the injured ranging in age from 6 to 61.
  • Witnesses said the shooter stood atop the Pyramid of the Moon firing as tourists attempted to descend; some victims were also hurt by falls during the incident.
  • Local guides said routine security screenings at the Teotihuacan site have not been consistently in place in recent years, and Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History announced the archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
  • Officials and diplomats responded: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the shooting will be investigated and that she is in contact with the Canadian embassy; Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed the Canadian casualties; and U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson expressed concern and offered U.S. support to Mexican authorities.

📰 Source Timeline (3)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

April 21, 2026
11:10 AM
Mexico pyramid shooter who took hostages and killed 1 is identified
Fox News
New information:
  • Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Mexican national Julio Cesar Jasso.
  • Officials state Jasso acted alone and died by suicide after turning the gun on himself.
  • Security officials recovered a gun, a knife, and ammunition from the shooter.
  • Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said the shooting will be investigated and that she is in touch with the Canadian Embassy.
  • Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand confirmed one Canadian killed and another wounded and issued a statement on X.
  • U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson expressed concern and said the U.S. is ready to support Mexican authorities.
  • Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History announced that the Teotihuacan archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
  • Article notes that routine entry screenings at the site are no longer consistently in place, according to a local guide.
5:18 AM
Gunman shoots several tourists at historic pyramids in Mexico
NPR by The Associated Press
New information:
  • Shooter identified as 27-year-old Mexican national Julio Cesar Jasso, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
  • Authorities say Jasso was the sole assailant and was found with a gun, a knife, and ammunition.
  • Updated casualty detail: one Canadian killed and at least 13 injured, including six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians, and one Canadian.
  • Age range of injured given as between 6 and 61 years old.
  • Witness accounts describe the shooter standing atop the Pyramid of the Moon firing as tourists tried to descend, with some victims injured by falls.
  • Local guides say security scans at the site had been carried out in past years but are no longer routine.