Mississippi mother says she shot escaped monkey to protect children

A Mississippi mom mentioned she shot and killed one of many monkeys that escaped after a truck overturned final week, fearing it will pose a menace to her kids and others within the neighborhood.

Jessica Bond Ferguson instructed The Related Press that she was in mattress on Sunday when her 16-year-old son alerted her to a monkey working by way of the backyard of their residence close to Heidelberg. Bond Ferguson mentioned she grabbed her mobile phone and a firearm earlier than stepping outdoors and seeing the animal about 60 toes away.

Bond Ferguson, a 35-year-old skilled chef, mentioned she opened fireplace out of concern for the protection of her kids.

“I did what some other mom would do to guard her kids,” mentioned Bond Ferguson, who has 5 kids ranging in age from 4 to 16. “I shot at it and he simply stood there, and I shot once more, and he backed away after which he fell.”

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An escaped monkey is seen within the grass Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Heidelberg, Miss. (Picture courtesy of Scotty Ray Report)

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Workplace confirmed Sunday {that a} house owner discovered one of many escaped monkeys on their property that morning. In a submit on social media, the sheriff’s workplace mentioned the Mississippi Division of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks had taken the animal into custody, however supplied no additional particulars.

Earlier than Bond Ferguson stepped outdoors, she mentioned she known as the police and was instructed to regulate the monkey. However she hesitated as a result of she feared that if it escaped, it may pose a menace to kids in a close-by residence.

Particles was seen close to the crash website in Mississippi as authorities recovered the animals on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Heidelberg, Miss. (Picture courtesy of Scotty Ray Report)

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“If it attacked somebody’s little one, and I may have stopped it, that may be a heavy burden on me,” Bond Ferguson mentioned. “It is fairly scary and harmful that they’re working round and that individuals let kids play of their backyard.”

A truck carrying 21 rhesus monkeys overturned on Interstate 59 close to Heidelberg, Mississippi on Tuesday, sparking a days-long seek for the escaped animals.

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Based on Tulane College, 13 monkeys have been positioned on the crash website final week and efficiently transported to their meant vacation spot. 5 have been killed throughout the search, whereas three remained lacking till one was recovered by a house owner on Sunday, officers mentioned.

Two Rehsus monkeys stay at massive as of Monday, with authorities warning residents that the primates are “aggressive.” (Jasper County Sheriff’s Division, Mississippi)

The monkeys have been housed on the Tulane Nationwide Primate Analysis Middle in New Orleans, which provides primates to scientific analysis organizations. In a press release, Tulane clarified that the animals weren’t owned by the college nor have been they transported by college personnel.

Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson mentioned preliminary studies from the truck’s occupants warned that the monkeys have been harmful and presumably carrying illnesses. Nonetheless, Tulane officers later confirmed that the monkeys had just lately undergone a well being examination and have been freed from pathogens.

Folks in protecting gear search alongside a freeway in Heidelberg, Miss., close to the positioning of an overturned truck carrying analysis monkeys on Wednesday. (AP Picture/Sophie Bates)

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Regardless of this, Johnson famous that authorities nonetheless thought of the animals a menace as a consequence of their aggressive nature and declared that they wanted to be “neutralized.”

The standing of the 2 remaining monkeys was unclear as of the final replace.

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The Mississippi Freeway Patrol is investigating the reason for the crash, which occurred about 100 miles from Jackson, the state capital.

The Related Press contributed to this report.