Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday expressed condolences to the family of the Canadian woman killed in a shooting in Mexico, which a Canadian witness who narrowly avoided being caught in the gunfire described as “horrible” and “unbelievable.”
Mexican authorities are investigating after a man opened fire on visitors at the historic Teotihuacán pyramids, a popular tourist site outside Mexico City, on Monday before taking his own life. Thirteen people of various nationalities were injured, seven of whom — including a second Canadian — were struck by gunfire.
The name of the woman killed has not yet been released by authorities, but a list of the 13 injured patients in hospital released by Mexico’s security cabinet named the second Canadian as 29-year-old Delicia Li de Yong.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has promised an investigation and strengthened security around Mexican archaeological zones and main tourist destinations.
“Our hearts go out to the family and friends of the individual who was tragically killed,” Carney told reporters while heading into a cabinet meeting in Ottawa.
“It’s a terrible circumstance. I very much appreciate President Sheinbaum’s personal attention to the matter, and we’re working with Mexican authorities on the situation. But it’s a sad day.”
Officials said Tuesday that the shooting was a planned attack and the gunman was carrying materials apparently related to the deadly 1999 shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. Monday was the 27th anniversary of that massacre.
Besides the Canadians, the injured victims included six people from the U.S., three from Colombia, one from Russia, one from Brazil and one from the Netherlands, the local government said. The youngest person hurt was a six-year-old child and the oldest was 61 years old, Mexican authorities said.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said while heading into the meeting that she had spoken with her Mexican counterpart earlier Tuesday morning and he had committed to an investigation.
She said consular officials were assisting the remaining victims and were available to help all Canadians in Mexico.
“Of course, I express my own condolences to the family of the victim, and I will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Canadians are supported abroad, and that this investigation uncovers facts relating to the death, the murder of a Canadian citizen on Mexican soil,” she said.
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