In the wake of a shooting on April 20 at the Teotihuacán archaeological site in Mexico, which resulted in two deaths and 13 injuries, Bishop Guillermo Francisco Escobar Galicia of Teotihuacán expressed his sorrow, called for prayers, and issued an urgent appeal to "reaffirm Christian values ??within families."
"We deeply lament that this has occurred as a consequence of the loss of a sense of the meaning of life and the failure to recognize the other as a brother," the bishop stated in a press release.
According to a statement from the Security Cabinet, the body responsible for the country's security strategy, "a man fired shots at the scene and subsequently took his own life."
"Regrettably, a Canadian woman lost her life, and as of now there are reports of several individuals who sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical attention. A firearm, a bladed weapon, and unspent ammunition were secured at the scene," the statement said.
According to the Security Cabinet, the 13 people injured, two of whom are minors aged 6 and 13, are foreign nationals: six from the United States, three from Colombia, one from Canada, one from Russia, one from the Netherlands, and one from Brazil. As of the latest report, "eight remain hospitalized."
The office of the attorney general of Mexico state identified Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a Mexican national, as the alleged assailant.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated April 20 on X that "what occurred today in Teotihuacán pains us deeply. I express my most sincere solidarity with those affected and their families. We are in contact with the Canadian Embassy."
"I have instructed the Security Cabinet to thoroughly investigate these events and provide all necessary support," she stated.
The federal attorney general's office stated that it is carrying out "the necessary investigative steps to clarify what occurred, in coordination with the attorney general's office of Mexico state."
Located approximately 25 miles northeast of Mexico City, the Teotihuacán archaeological site, which includes the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, is the second-most-visited site in Mexico after Chichén Itzá in Yucatán state. According to official figures from the Secretariat of Tourism, 1.8 million tourists visited Teotihuacán during 2025.
Look to Jesus Christ
In his statement, Escobar called upon all Catholic faithful "to lift up our prayers for those who have lost their lives, as well as for all those who are going astray, that they may be profoundly reconciled with God and with others."
"Today, more than ever, we need to look to Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, to return to Christian values ??within our families," he said.
"May Mary Most Holy accompany and soothe the pain of those suffering the loss of a loved one and of those who have gone through this bitter experience," the prelate prayed.
This story was first published by ACI Prensa, the Spanish-language sister service of EWTN News. It has been translated and adapted by EWTN News English.
