Tourists Experience Terror in Teotihuacan: "I have sacrificed them," the attacker's last words
An attack that left one tourist dead and several wounded in the heart of the archaeological zone
What began as a normal tourist day at the imposing pyramids of Teotihuacan ended up becoming a scene of horror that no one present will ever forget.
They were visitors from different countries—families, couples, and groups of friends—who were exploring the Pyramid of the Moon, taking photographs, and enjoying the scenery when, without warning, an armed man appeared and changed everything in a matter of seconds.
It was Julio Cesar Jasso Ramirez, 27, who began moving among the tourists with a gun in his hand, initially causing confusion. Some thought it was a joke or even a reenactment… until the first shots rang out.
Panic gripped the scene
Witnesses say the attacker not only fired shots but also tried to subdue several people amidst the chaos. Screams, desperate running, and bodies lying on the ground marked the most critical minutes of the attack.
The phrase that chilled everyone
Amid the horror, several survivors agree on a disturbing detail: before taking his own life, the attacker uttered a phrase that has now become the darkest symbol of the case:
"I have sacrificed them."
The words, spoken coldly according to those nearby, increased the bewilderment about his true motives.
Victims and chaos
The attack left at least one person dead—a Canadian tourist—and more than a dozen injured, several of them in critical condition. Among the injured were foreigners who had simply come to visit one of Mexico's most emblematic archaeological sites.
Some were trapped atop the pyramid, unsure of where to flee.
An attack that was not improvised
Subsequent investigations revealed that Jasso Ramírez had planned the attack in advance. He stayed near the site days before, carried extra ammunition, and chose a date that coincided with the anniversary of the Columbine massacre, raising concerns about a possible ideological motivation.
Furthermore, recent reports indicate that the attacker displayed a fascination with mass attacks and extremist content, reinforcing the hypothesis of individual radicalization.
The attacker was wounded by authorities during the security response. Cornered and with no way out, he uttered his last words before shooting himself.
Although authorities maintain that he acted alone, the case remains under investigation to determine if there was any external influence or prior warning signs that could have been detected.