Julio César Jasso Ramírez stood atop the Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan just after 11:30 a.m. On Monday, April 20, 2026, and opened fire on tourists below, killing one Canadian woman and wounding at least 13 others before turning the gun on himself.
The attack unfolded as dozens of visitors crowded the summit of the ancient structure, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that drew over 1.8 million international visitors last year. Video and eyewitness accounts show Jasso firing upward from the platform, prompting some to throw themselves face down on the stone while others fled down the steep steps. A tour guide, speaking anonymously for safety, described how the shooter resumed firing as people descended, saying, “Some people, because they were scared … Threw themselves face down on the ground, and the rest of us started to go down.” Brenda Lee of Vancouver recalled waiting to buy a souvenir when she and others first mistook the gunfire for firecrackers.
Authorities confirmed Jasso acted alone and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators recovered a tactical-style backpack containing an analog cellphone, bus tickets, a firearm, a knife, and ammunition. Among the items were handwritten notes and books referencing U.S. Mass shootings, including a digitally altered photograph showing Jasso alongside the perpetrators of the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The attack occurred on the 27th anniversary of that Colorado shooting, which left 13 dead and 24 injured.
The wounded included six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians, one Dutch national, and one Canadian — the deceased. Injuries ranged from gunshot wounds to trauma sustained during falls or panicked descents from the pyramid. The youngest victim was six years old; the oldest was 61. Local officials said seven were struck by gunfire; the nature of the other injuries was not disclosed.
For more on this story, see Gunman kills Canadian, wounds 13 at Teotihuacán Pyramid of the Moon before suicide.
Jasso, 27, was identified as a native of Guerrero, Mexico. State officials said he had no known criminal record but had consumed extremist material online, including participation in forums linked to the “true crime community” that emerged after Columbine to discuss and sometimes glorify mass violence. This mirrors a case earlier in April 2026 in Santa Fe, Argentina, where authorities tied a teenager who killed one student and injured eight others to the same online subculture.
The shooting took place less than two months before Mexico co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup, prompting immediate security reassessments. President Claudia Sheinbaum called for stronger protocols and an analysis of “external influences” that may provoke such violence. Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced increased ground patrols and digital monitoring at major tourist sites to deter future threats.
While such attacks remain rare in Latin America, officials acknowledged they are not unprecedented. The incident underscores how global extremist ideologies can exploit symbolic locations — in this case, a monument to ancient Mesoamerican civilization — to amplify violence tied to foreign tragedies.
Why did the attacker choose Teotihuacan?
Authorities say Jasso conducted advance surveillance of the site, suggesting deliberate selection. The pyramids’ status as a top international tourist destination and their symbolic weight as a pre-Columbian landmark may have offered both visibility and a stage for his act, though no direct link to the site’s history or culture was found in his materials.
What connection did the attacker have to the Columbine shooting?
Investigators found books, handwritten notes, and an AI-altered photograph linking Jasso to the 1999 Columbine High School massacre. The attack occurred on its 27th anniversary, and the materials indicated familiarity with the perpetrators and the event, though no evidence shows he had direct contact with individuals involved in the original shooting.
How is Mexico responding to security concerns ahead of the World Cup?
Federal and state officials have pledged increased security at tourist sites, including more visible police presence and digital surveillance. President Sheinbaum emphasized the need to study external influences that could inspire violence, while Security Secretary Harfuch confirmed plans for expanded patrols and cyber monitoring to prevent similar incidents during the tournament.
