A gunman shot at tourists at the historic Teotihuacán pyramids outside Mexico City, killing a Canadian and wounded many others. This was a rare attack at one of the country’s most popular cultural sites.
Authorities say the shooting happened on Monday at the Pyramid of the Moon in the historic site. The shooter went to a high point and then shot at those below.
At least one Canadian tourist died, and more than a dozen others were hurt, including those from the US, Colombia, Brazil, and Russia.
Authorities said the suspect was a Mexican citizen who later shot himself in the head and died at the scene. Witnesses said things were really chaotic as the gunshots rang out, and tourists raced for safety, with some getting hurt in the stampede that followed.
People who were there and emergency workers hurried to help the victims and gave them first aid until ambulances came. Some of the injured were sent to local hospitals. Some had gunshot wounds, while others were hurt trying to get away.
Claudia Sheinbaum, the president of Mexico, sent her sympathies to the victims and their families. She called the attack “deeply distressing” and promised a complete inquiry into what happened.
Every year, millions of people visit the Teotihuacán site, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Mexico’s most important pre-Hispanic cultural hubs. Violence at such popular tourist spots is thought to be unusual, which raises new questions about safety as the country gets ready to host international events in the near future.
Authorities have since shuttered the location for a short time while they look into what happened.
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