MEXICO CITY – The renowned Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico were shut down on Tuesday following a tragic incident in which a gunman opened fire on tourists, resulting in the death of a Canadian woman. The shooting also left at least 13 others injured, including a young boy aged six, at this historic site located just north of the capital.
The local government reported that gunfire wounded seven individuals, while the nature of the remaining injuries was unspecified. Some of the injured fell during the chaos, which ensued as the gunfire erupted, affecting those climbing the pyramids.
Authorities confirmed that the shooter operated alone and subsequently took his own life. A firearm, a knife, and additional ammunition were recovered from the scene.
Among those hospitalized were six U.S. citizens, three Colombians, one Russian, one Brazilian, one Dutch, and one Canadian. The injured ranged in age from six to 61, according to Mexican officials.
As of Tuesday morning, Mexico’s security cabinet reported that the injured individuals were receiving treatment at a nearby clinic, having spent the previous night in stable condition.
The attacker was identified as Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a 27-year-old from Guerrero, Mexico.
The assailant carried a tactical-style backpack containing an analog cellphone and bus tickets, said José Luis Cervantes Martínez, the attorney general of the state of Mexico, which includes Teotihuacan.
Martínez also noted the presence of “literature, images and manuscripts” related to “violent incidents known to have occurred in the United States in April 1999,” an apparent reference to the deadly shooting at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado, in which 12 students and a teacher were killed.
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. 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 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.
“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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