Survivors of Teotihuacan pyramid shooting recount daring escape
Los Angeles Times • • world
Key Points:
- A gunman, identified as 27-year-old Julián César Jasso Ramírez, opened fire at the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacán, Mexico, killing one Canadian tourist and injuring at least 13 others, all foreigners, before shooting himself dead.
- The attacker, described as a copycat influenced by foreign mass shootings like Columbine, held tourists captive atop the pyramid for about 25 minutes, threatening them and causing panic among visitors.
- Survivors, including Jalen Aybar and Jaslim Landaverde from Chicago, escaped by jumping from the pyramid platforms, with Landaverde sustaining a broken foot during the escape.
- Mexican authorities called the incident isolated and promised to enhance security at archaeological sites, including potentially installing metal detectors, while emphasizing the importance of addressing mental health and social values.
- The shooting raised concerns ahead of Mexico hosting World Cup soccer matches, but officials assured the public that security measures for tourists and events remain robust.
