It was a quiet morning at the Pyramid of the Moon when suddenly a gunman started shooting at tourists. This historic site, one of the popular places to visit in Mexico turned into a scene of a terrible shooting on Monday.
People were walking around the ruins when the attacker climbed up the pyramid and started firing his gun. Everyone ran to hide behind the stone structures as panic spread over the site.
A 32 year old woman from Canada died in the attack. Several tourists from countries like Russia and Brazil and Colombia were hurt. They were taken to hospitals right after the incident.
The Attacker Was Alone No Connection to Cartels
The police started investigating away. They found out that the attacker was alone and did not have any connection to crime groups.
The suspect is Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a 27 year man from Mexico City. The police think he planned the attack by himself without any help from others.
Was It a Copycat Attack?
The police also found some things among the attackers belongings.
Some of these things were related to the Columbine High School shooting. A witness said the gunman mentioned Columbine while he was attacking.
A Different Kind of Violence in Mexico
Mexico has been dealing with a lot of violence for years because of drug cartels. Usually the violence is between groups fighting for control.
This attack is different. The police say it has nothing to do with cartel activity, including groups like the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
This case shows that there is a kind of threat in public places. Lone attackers with their motives can be a danger to people.
Tourism and Safety Concerns Before the World Cup
The timing of the attack is bad for Mexicos reputation. The country is getting ready to host the FIFA World Cup with countries.
Millions of people will be visiting Mexico. Making sure tourists are safe is now a priority for the authorities.
The police will probably review the security at tourist spots. They might add cameras and controls in the coming weeks.
- The attack happened at a tourist site
- The suspect was an attacker with no connection to cartels
- The police are investigating the motive, behind the attack
- Mexico is getting ready to host the World Cup and safety is a concern
- The police will review security measures at tourist spots
