Homeowner Shoots and Kills Escaped Monkey After Fears for Children's Safety

A Mississippi homeowner, Jessica Bond Ferguson, shot and killed an escaped monkey on Sunday, October 28, after suspecting it posed a threat to her children. Ferguson, who has five children, had received warnings that the escaped Rhesus monkeys were potentially diseased, and in a split second, she made the decision to protect her family. The incident occurred after a truck carrying the monkeys overturned on a Mississippi roadway, releasing the animals into the wild. The monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Key Takeaways:

• A homeowner in Mississippi shot and killed one of three escaped Rhesus monkeys that had been released into the wild after a truck overturned on October 28.
• The homeowner, Jessica Bond Ferguson, feared for the safety of her children and had received warnings that the escaped monkeys were potentially diseased, including herpes.
• The monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, but a statement from the university clarified that the animals do not belong to the university and were not being transported by them.
• Initial reports stated that all but one monkey had been killed, however, subsequent reports revealed that three monkeys remained at large and were being searched for by authorities.
• The Jasper county sheriff's office initially reported that the monkeys were carrying diseases, but Tulane University corrected this, stating that the monkeys "have not been exposed to any infectious agent."

Statistics:

• Three Rhesus monkeys remained at large after escaping from a truck that overturned on October 28.
• The monkeys had been housed at the Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
• The homeowner, Jessica Bond Ferguson, has five children.
• The incident occurred near Heidelberg, Mississippi, on the same day the truck overturned carrying the monkeys.
• Three monkeys had escaped, according to initial reports (later corrected to two remaining at large).

Sources:

• Associated Press
• Tulane University statement
• Jasper county sheriff's office social media post
• Guardian news article.