Mexico pyramid shooting: 6 Americans among those hurt
Red Cross personnel descend from the Pyramid of the Moon carrying the body of a dead person, while forensic investigators search the area after a shooting that killed one tourist on April 20, 2026 in Teotihuacan, Mexico. (Photo by Cristopher Rogel Bl
Six Americans were hurt when a gunman opened fire Monday on tourists visiting a popular archaeological site in Mexico.
Here’s what’s known about the attack:
Mexico pyramid shooting
Big picture view:
The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. Monday, when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon. The gunman fired upward, according to a tour guide who was at the scene and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity for safety reasons.
What they're saying:
"Some people, because they were scared ... threw themselves face-down on the ground, and the rest of us started to go down," the guide said, recounting how the shooter began firing as tourists descended the pyramid’s steps.
Another group of visitors lay motionless on the pyramid’s platform to avoid being targeted.
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What we know:
Authorities identified the attacker as 27-year-old Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a native of Guerrero, Mexico. Authorities said he acted alone, then shot and killed himself.
A Canadian woman was killed, and at least 13 people were hurt.
Local government said the following people were in the hospital:
- 6 people from the U.S.
- 3 people from Colombia
- 1 person from Russia
- 1 person from Brazil
- 1 person from the Netherlands
- 1 person from Canada
The youngest person who was hurt was 6; the oldest was 61, Mexican authorities said.
What we don't know:
The nature of the injuries was unclear. Officials said some people fell when the shooting started, including some who were climbing on the pyramids.
It’s also not known yet where the Americans were traveling from.
Teotihuacan pyramids
Big picture view:
The Teotihuacan pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are a series of massive structures on the outskirts of Mexico City built by three different ancient civilizations.
Local perspective:
As one of Mexico’s most important tourist destinations, the site drew more than 1.8 million international visitors last year, according to government figures.
The Source: Information in this article was taken from Mexican authorities, as reported by The Associated Press. Background information was also taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Detroit.