Mexico: Canadian tourist shot dead in shooting at Teotihuacán Pyramids

A Canadian tourist has been shot dead in Mexico and at least six others injured after a gunman opened fire at the famous Teotihuacán pyramids, just outside Mexico City, authorities have said. The attacker later killed himself, according to officials.

State and federal security forces were deployed to the site after receiving an emergency call, the security ministry of Mexico State said in a statement, Caliber.Az reports via US media.

Two people were found dead, “one of whom was likely the shooter”.

Six others were injured, either by gunfire or after falling from the pyramids during the incident. They were taken to the hospital for treatment.

Mexico’s security cabinet confirmed that a Canadian woman had been killed, though her identity has not been released. The Canadian embassy in Mexico City has not yet commented.

Footage shared online appears to show tourists taking cover at the base of one of the pyramids as gunfire rings out. “Call the police!” a woman is heard shouting. A single figure can be seen standing on the structure, with what appears to be a group of people lying nearby.

Laura Torres, a visitor to the site, described the moment the shooting began.

“I saw the guy shooting from up on the pyramid, and yeah, there were a lot of people there,” she said. She added that she witnessed a tourist being shot.

“She was lying about halfway up the pyramid,” she said. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

President Claudia Sheinbaum said the attack had caused deep distress.

“What happened today in Teotihuacán pains us deeply,” she wrote on social media. She added that the government had been in contact with the Canadian embassy and had ordered a full investigation. “I have instructed the security cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support,” she said.

The Mexico State prosecutor’s office has opened an investigation.

Teotihuacán is one of the country’s most visited heritage sites, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The ancient city, which predates the Aztecs, once had a population of up to 125,000 people at its height and remains a major draw for both domestic and international tourists.

In 2025, it was Mexico’s second most-visited archaeological site, receiving more than 700,000 visitors. Authorities are also preparing for increased tourism ahead of the upcoming World Cup, with plans to deploy around 10,000 security personnel nationwide.

By Aghakazim Guliyev