Mexico's Sheinbaum vows probe into tourist resort shooting that killed Canadians – National
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has promised an investigation into the shooting of a number of historic towers that killed a Canadian tourist and injured another.
Sheinbaum wrote on social media that Monday's shooting at the Teotihuacán tower block was “very painful” for his government and said he was in contact with the Canadian Embassy.
“I express my sincere solidarity with the affected people and their families,” he wrote.
A gunman standing atop one of Teotihuacan's historic towers opened fire on tourists on Monday, killing one Canadian and injuring at least 13 people at an archaeological site north of Mexico's capital, authorities said.
The shooter was identified as Julio Cesar Jasso, 27, from Mexico, the official told AP on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak about the case. Jasso later died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities said, and security officials recovered a gun, knife and ammunition.
Jasso was the lone attacker in the attack, the Mexican government said Monday night.
The local government said seven people were injured in the shooting. How the other people were injured was not revealed, but a number of people fell when the shooting started, others while climbing on top of the towers.
Those taken to hospitals for treatment were six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians and one Canadian, the local government said. The youngest victim was 6 years old; the oldest was 61, Mexican authorities said.
FILE- Forensic experts carry the body of a victim down a pyramid after authorities said a gunman opened fire, in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Monday, April 20, 2026.
(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Video and photos published by local media showed a man, later identified as Jasso, standing with a gun on top of the tower as people ran for cover. Several shots were fired in the videos.
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The pyramids of Teotihuacan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a series of large structures on the outskirts of Mexico City built by three different ancient civilizations. As one of Mexico's most important tourist destinations, the area attracted more than 1.8 million foreign visitors last year, according to government statistics.
The shooting happened shortly after 11:30 am when a large number of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon. Standing in the courtyard of the building, the shooting began, according to a tour guide who was at the scene and spoke to The Associated Press, who asked not to be identified for security reasons.
Some people, because they were afraid … they threw themselves face down, and we all started to go down,” said the guide, recounting that the gunman, when he saw the tourists coming down the steps of the pyramid, started shooting.
Another group of tourists lay motionless on the pyramid's platform to avoid being targeted by the gunman, who the authorities have not yet identified.
Brenda Lee, from Vancouver, British Columbia, said she was waiting to buy a souvenir when she and others in her group thought they heard fireworks.
“Before we knew it, someone said, 'No, that's gunfire, run away,' and we saw people coming out of the building,” he told CTV News, one of Canada's national television broadcasters.
“There were thousands of people there and there were a lot of guns coming,” Lee said.
The scene turned into chaos as people tried to escape, Lee said.
“Then the guy jumped,” he said. “It was a person who was trying to escape, and he went down to the next level, but he fell on his back, and … it was very bad.”
In past years, staff at the archaeological site used to conduct security checks before people entered the site but stopped, said one local guide.
FILE – Police guard the towers after authorities said a gunman opened fire in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Monday, April 20, 2026.
(AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
Anita Anand, Canada's foreign minister, told X that “due to a horrific act of gun violence, one Canadian was killed and another injured in Teotihuacán” and that “her thoughts are with their families and loved ones.”
Later in the evening, US Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson also expressed “deep concern” and sadness at the many deaths and injuries, and said on the X website that the US “stands ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.”
The National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement that the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
© 2026 The Canadian Press
