A shooting perpetrated by Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a 27-year-old Mexican young man, spread terror this Monday in the archaeological zone of Teotihuacán, one of the most emblematic tourist destinations in the country.
The attack, which occurred specifically at the Pyramid of the Moon, caused the death of a Canadian tourist, in addition to injuring 13 other people. Among the injured are six American citizens, three Colombians, two Brazilians, one Canadian and one Russian.
According to the authorities, the attacker opened fire from the top of the pyramid against the visitors who were walking along the esplanade, causing scenes of chaos as dozens of people tried to flee or get to safety. Witnesses reported that multiple gunshots were heard and that some were injured not only from gunshot wounds, but also from falls during the stampede.
Julio César Jasso, follower of Hitler and the Columbine Institute massacre
The attacker, later identified as Julio César Jasso Ramírez, acted alone and died at the scene, presumably as a result of a self-inflicted wound after the shooting.
Preliminary investigations indicate that there is still no clear motive, although some lines point to possible extremist ideological influences and references to violent attacks that occurred in the past. The shooting coincides with the anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre, when two students murdered several classmates and a professor with assault rifles.
Furthermore, as published by the Mexican newspaper Millenniumthe shooter was a follower of Adolf Hitler and would have chosen this date for the dictator’s birth. It has also been confirmed that he published photographs giving the Nazi salute.
A video circulating on social networks shows how the murderer reproached tourists that “this is a place to make sacrifices, not to take a fucking photo of shit.”
strong shock
The event has generated a strong commotion both in Mexico and internationally, especially since it occurred in a site declared a World Heritage Site and visited by millions of tourists each year. After the incident, authorities ordered the indefinite closure of the archaeological complex while investigations continue and security measures are reinforced.
In addition to the human impact, the attack has revived concerns about security in the country, particularly a few weeks before hosting high-impact events such as the World Cup, which will be played in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
The president and various authorities expressed their condolences to the victims and assured that the facts will be clarified, while security teams and experts continue working in the area to reconstruct what happened.
