Millions have climbed the Pyramid of the Moon to feel something sacred. On Monday, they felt terror and fear.
Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez arrived at Teotihuacan the day before by Uber. He checked into a hotel. He carried a revolver, 52 cartridges, a bladed weapon, and notes referencing the 1999 Columbine massacre. He also carried an AI-generated photo of himself standing alongside the Columbine attackers. He had planned this. The attack fell on Columbine’s 27th anniversary.
A 32-year-old Canadian woman was killed. Thirteen others were injured — six Americans, three Colombians, two Brazilians, one Russian, one Canadian. Among the wounded were a six-year-old and a thirteen-year-old. Jasso took his own life before police reached him.
Mexico co-hosts the FIFA World Cup in less than two months, expecting millions of international visitors at sites exactly like this one. Mexican authorities have since announced armed ground forces and digital cyber patrols across all major tourist destinations nationwide. The announcement tells you everything about how seriously they are taking what just happened.
The pyramids have stood for two thousand years. Monday made the whole world wonder whether they are safe to visit this summer.Sources: CNN, NPR, CBS News, El Universal
