Gunman at Mexican pyramid carried supplies associated to Columbine bloodbath

[ad_1] MEXICO CITY (AP) — The gunman who opened fire on tourists at Mexico’s iconic Teotihuacan pyramids carried supplies that had been apparently associated to the 1999 taking pictures at Columbine Excessive College, authorities stated Tuesday, a day after the assault that killed a Canadian girl and left no less than 13 folks injured.

Though officers didn't point out Columbine by identify, they referred to a number of books and handwritten notes that belonged to the gunman and referenced assaults in the USA in April 1999. Monday marked the twenty seventh anniversary of the massacre in Colorado .

Among the many gunman’s belongings was a photograph modified by synthetic intelligence displaying him alongside the Columbine attackers, in response to a state official who spoke to The Related Press on the situation of anonymity as a result of the official was not approved to deal with the media.

Seven folks had been wounded by gunshots on the archaeological web site north of the Mexican capital, the native authorities stated. The character of the opposite accidents was not disclosed, however some folks fell when the taking pictures began, together with some who had been climbing on the pyramids.

The assailant, who acted alone, shot and killed himself, authorities stated, and safety officers discovered a gun, a knife and ammunition on the scene.

Assault got here earlier than World Cup match The assault occurred lower than two months earlier than Mexico co-hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup soccer match. Mexico’s safety secretary, Omar García Harfuch, stated main vacationer locations would see a heightened presence of each floor forces and digital “cyber patrols” to stop threats.

“Yesterday’s assault highlights the pressing have to strengthen our safety protocols,” Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated. She additionally famous the significance of analyzing “exterior influences” that will provoke such violence throughout the nation.

Whereas such assaults are unusual in Latin America, they don't seem to be unprecedented. Earlier this month, Argentine authorities linked a young person to the “true crime group” after the teenager killed one pupil and wounded eight others at a faculty within the central province of Santa Fe. The group is an internet subculture that emerged from boards established after the Columbine bloodbath to debate and, in some instances, glorify such violence.

Taken to hospitals after the Mexico assault had been six folks from the U.S., three from Colombia, one from Russia, one from Brazil, one from the Netherlands and one from Canada, the native authorities stated. The youngest one that was damage was 6; the oldest was 61, Mexican authorities stated.

Shooter scouted vacationer web site forward of assault Authorities recognized the attacker as 27-year-old Julio César Jasso Ramírez, a local of Guerrero, Mexico, who, they stated, arrived in Teotihuacan a day earlier in an Uber and stayed in a resort.

Then on Monday shortly earlier than midday, whereas atop the Pyramid of the Moon, he started firing at vacationers with an previous revolver whereas holding a plastic bag containing 52 .38-caliber cartridges in his different hand, stated José Luis Cervantes Martínez, the legal professional common of the state of Mexico, which incorporates Teotihuacan.

From the summit of the pyramid, the attacker opened hearth on vacationers and focused approaching safety forces. Some folks threw themselves to the bottom and lay immobile to keep away from detection. Others fled down the construction as gunshots echoed, Cervantes Martínez stated.

Nationwide Guard members ultimately scaled the pyramid and wounded the attacker within the leg. Witnesses stated the gunman shot and killed himself as soon as he felt cornered, in response to Cervantes Martínez.

The assailant carried a tactical-style backpack containing an analog cellphone and bus tickets, Cervantes Martínez stated.

The legal professional common additionally famous the presence of “literature, photographs and manuscripts” that associated to “violent incidents recognized to have occurred in the USA in April 1999,” a probable reference to the Columbine attack during which 12 college students and a trainer had been killed.

Investigators constructed “a psychopathic profile” of the suspect that was “characterised by an inclination to repeat conditions that occurred elsewhere, at different instances and involving different figures,’” he added.

Greg Magadini, of Boise, Idaho, was with a tour group on high of the pyramid when he heard a loud crack adopted by screaming. The gunman was about 40 toes (12 meters) away on the identical platform with roughly 60 vacationers, he stated.

Magadini jumped down a ledge and scrambled for canopy whereas two of his buddies stayed on the platform above attempting to cover.

Witnesses stated everybody was a goal Photographs appeared to ring out each 5 seconds, Magadini stated, as he and the others jumped down extra ledges to achieve the bottom. Then they ran by way of a subject behind the pyramid, carrying certainly one of his buddies who badly injured her ankle on one of many jumps.

Magadini, who got here away with scrapes and cuts, stated he didn't see the shooter, however his buddies stated the gunman appeared to fireside randomly in all instructions. “Everybody was a goal,” he stated.

Later on the hospital, they talked with different vacationers, who stated the shooter at one level performed unusual music and taunted them, saying he hated vacationers, Magadini stated.

The Teotihuacan pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , are a sequence of historic constructions on the outskirts of Mexico City . As certainly one of Mexico’s hottest vacationer locations, the location drew greater than 1.8 million worldwide guests final yr, in response to authorities figures.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney supplied condolences to the household and buddies of the Canadian vacationer who was killed. He stated Canadian authorities had been working with these in Mexico.

“It’s a horrible circumstance,” Carney stated.

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Related Press writers Megan Janetsky and and Fabiola Sánchez in Mexico Metropolis and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, contributed to this report.

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Comply with AP’s protection of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america

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