Gunman at Mexican Tourist Site Leaves Disturbing AI Image with Columbine Shooters
A gunman who opened fire on crowds of tourists at the historic Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico has left behind a disturbing AI-generated image showing himself posing with the Columbine school shooters. The incident, which occurred on Monday, resulted in multiple casualties and has sent shockwaves through the international community.
Details of the Attack
The shooter, identified as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso of Mexico, wounded 13 people, including six Americans, and killed a Canadian woman, according to authorities. The attack took place around 11:30 a.m. at the Pyramid of the Moon within the Teotihuacán archaeological site, located approximately 30 miles northwest of Mexico City. Jasso was the sole gunman and later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Creepy AI Image and Disturbing Connections
Among the items recovered at the scene was an AI-generated photograph that appeared to depict Jasso standing alongside Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, the two teenagers responsible for the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado. The image was reportedly created using artificial intelligence technology, adding a modern, chilling twist to the violence.
Notably, the attack occurred on the 27th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, which took place on April 20, 1999. In the AI image, Jasso is wearing a shirt bearing the phrase "Disconnect and Destruct," a slogan linked to a violent online subculture known as "The True Crime Community" that glorifies such massacres.
Additional Evidence and Victim Accounts
Further disturbing items were found at the site, including pictures of Jasso performing the Nazi salute, a gesture he had been known to make since his youth. A gun and a knife were also recovered. Videos shared online captured Jasso pacing around the pyramids while brandishing a handgun, as terrified tourists lay face down on the ground. In one clip, he can be heard threatening to sacrifice European tourists at the 2,000-year-old site, which historically was used for such purposes.
Brenda Lee, a tourist from Vancouver, British Columbia, described the chaos: "Before we knew it, someone said, 'No, that's gunfire, run,' and we saw people coming off the top. There were thousands of people there and there were a lot of gunshots that just kept coming."
Victims and Aftermath
Those injured in the attack included six Americans, three Colombians, one Russian, two Brazilians, and one Canadian. The youngest victim was 6 years old, while the oldest was 61. Mexican authorities have confirmed that the Teotihuacán archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Mexico's top tourist destinations, will remain closed indefinitely. The site attracted over 1.8 million international visitors last year.
Official Responses
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her deep sorrow over the incident on social media, stating that the shooting would be thoroughly investigated and that she was in contact with the Canadian Embassy. "What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families," she wrote.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand also commented on X, noting that "a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán" due to a "horrific act of gun violence," and extending her thoughts to the victims' families.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
