A vacation day at one of Mexico’s most famous archaeological sites turned terrifying for a Seattle visitor on Monday, when a gunman opened fire from the top of the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan. Tourists bolted down the steep stone steps as authorities locked down the area and emergency crews rushed in. By the time the shooting stopped, one person was dead and multiple others were wounded, according to officials.
Tim Chung, visiting as part of a Seattle-based tour group, told KING 5 he was standing about 200 meters from the Pyramid when he heard the first shots. Within moments, he said, people were scrambling off the ancient structure and trying to find cover on the ground. Chung described the scene as “traumatizing” and said National Guard vehicles and helicopters quickly swarmed the site. His account matches video and photos that spread online in the hours after the attack, capturing both the panic and the heavy security response.
What authorities say
State officials said the attacker was a 27-year-old Mexican national acting alone who later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators at the site recovered a revolver, a knife and a bag of .38-caliber cartridges. They also found books, images and handwritten notes that referenced violent incidents in the United States in April 1999, apparently alluding to the Columbine school shooting, according to AP.
Victims and response
Mexican officials said a Canadian tourist was killed and at least 13 others were injured, including U.S. citizens and visitors from Colombia, Brazil, Russia and the Netherlands. Video and photos from the scene show a man firing from the summit of the Pyramid of the Moon while people duck for cover below. The National Institute of Anthropology and History said the archaeological zone would remain closed while investigators work, according to The Washington Post. Hospitals treated victims ranging in age from children to older adults, officials said.
Security and World Cup
The shooting has reignited concerns about safety at high-profile tourist sites less than two months before Mexico is set to co-host the 2026 World Cup. President Claudia Sheinbaum said she was in contact with the Canadian embassy and would review security measures at the Teotihuacan ruins, according to The Guardian. Officials signaled plans to step up patrols and tighten safeguards at heavily visited cultural destinations ahead of the tournament.
Consular aid and local reaction
Canada’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, condemned the shooting as “a horrific act of gun violence” and said consular teams were working to assist those affected, according to reporting by AP. Around Teotihuacan, local guides and vendors said they expect tighter security and renewed pressure for basic bag checks and clearer safety protocols at the site as authorities continue their investigation.
