At least one Canadian tourist was shot dead and several other people were wounded, the authorities said, when a man opened fire on Monday at one of Mexico’s most popular tourist destinations, the Teotihuacán pyramids just outside Mexico City.
The gunman then shot and killed himself, the authorities said.
State and federal security forces arrived at the archaeological site after receiving an emergency call, according to a statement by the local security ministry of Mexico State, which is adjacent to Mexico City, the capital.
Two people were found dead, “one of whom was likely the shooter,” the statement said. Six other people were wounded, either from gunshot wounds or from falling from the pyramids. They were taken to hospitals, the statement said.
Mexico’s security cabinet said in a statement that a Canadian woman had been killed during the shooting but did not identify her. The Canadian Embassy in Mexico City did not immediately respond to questions about the victim.
Videos circulating online on Monday show tourists ducking at the bottom of a pyramid as gunfire is heard. “Call the police!” a woman is heard screaming. A lone figure is seen on the pyramid next to what appears to be a group of people lying down nearby.
Laura Torres, a tourist visiting Teotihuacán, told reporters at the scene that she had been walking in when she heard the gunfire.
“I saw the guy shooting from up on the pyramid, and yeah, there were a lot of people there,” Ms. Torres said. Then she saw a tourist being shot.
“She was lying about halfway up the pyramid,” she said. “This shouldn’t have happened.”
President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico said on social media, “What happened today in Teotihuacán pains us deeply.” She added that the Mexican government had been in contact with the Canadian Embassy. “I have instructed the security cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support,” she said.
A spokesman for the Mexico State prosecutor’s office said an investigation had been opened.
Teotihuacán, an ancient city of pyramids and palaces that predates the Aztecs had as many as 125,000 people living there at its peak. The site attracts thousands of tourists every year, both foreigners and nationals, drawn by its three titanic pyramids. To this day, researchers continue making discoveries there.
In 2025, Teotihuacán was Mexico’s second-most-popular archaeological site, with 722,000 visitors that year. For the upcoming World Cup, the Mexico State government announced it was preparing an immersive night show for tourists there. Mexican officials expect the soccer tournament to attract nearly 5.5 million fans. To safeguard the matches, Mexico is planning to deploy 10,000 security forces across the country.
Cyntia Barrera Díaz contributed reporting.
Emiliano Rodríguez Mega is a reporter and researcher for The Times based in Mexico City, covering Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.
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