Mississippi woman kills escaped monkey fearing for her children's safety

A Mississippi homeowner shot and killed one of approximately 21 Rhesus monkeys that had escaped following a truck accident. Jessica Bond Ferguson stated she acted out of fear for her five children's safety after her son alerted her to a monkey in their yard near Heidelberg. She retrieved a firearm and shot the animal when it was about 60 feet away, firing again when it did not retreat, causing it to fall. The truck carrying the monkeys overturned on Interstate 59, and most of the animals were killed in the crash. Initial reports from the truck's occupants warned of diseases, but Tulane University, where the monkeys were reportedly housed or destined for research, stated they were pathogen-free and not owned by the university. The Jasper County Sheriff's Office confirmed a homeowner found a monkey on their property and that the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks took possession of the deceased animal... download the app to read more