Tourist shot dead, others injured at historic pyramid

Tuesday, 21 April 2026 08:09

A famous historical site in Mexico City, popular with tourists, has been rocked by tragedy.

A Canadian tourist has been killed and multiple others injured after a gunman opened fire at a historic site in Mexico.

Local authorities said the man began shooting at the Teotihuacan pyramids before turning the gun on himself and dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Mexican authorities say four people were wounded by gunshots, and two more were injured from falling on the pyramid during the ensuing chaos.

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Forensic workers carry the body of a victim down a pyramid after authorities said a gunman opened fire, in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Monday, April 20, 2026.

Officers working security at the site were the first to respond, followed by a National Guard unit in a van.

Among the injured are Colombian, Russian and Canadian tourists.

A tour guide told the Associated Press dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon when a man standing on the structure's platform began firing upward.

Video and photos published by local news organisations show a man standing with a gun on a platform while people above duck for cover.

A number of gunshots ring out in the videos.

"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, upon seeing the tourists descending the pyramid's steps, began firing.

The Pyramid of the Moon, left, and the Pyramid of the Sun, back right, are seen along with smaller structures lining the Avenue of the Dead, in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy.

"What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families," she wrote.

Anita Anand, Canada's foreign affairs minister, said on X that as a "result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán" and that her "thoughts are with their family and loved ones".

The Teotihuacán pyramids are a series of massive structures on the outskirts of Mexico City built by three different ancient civilisations.

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.

Reported with Associated Press

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