Monkey Shot by Homeowner After Escape in Mississippi

Sat Dec 20 2025 14:44:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A Rhesus monkey that escaped from a truck accident in Mississippi was shot by a concerned homeowner. The incident raised alarms about potential dangers posed by the animals.

After an adventure led by an overturned truck, a Rhesus monkey found its way into a residential area near Heidelberg, Mississippi. Homeowner Jessica Bond Ferguson, fearing for the safety of her children, shot the monkey, highlighting the serious implications of the escape from a biomedical research facility.

HEIDELBERG, Miss. — A Rhesus monkey that escaped last week after a truck overturned in Mississippi was shot and killed early Sunday by a local homeowner concerned about her children's safety.

Jessica Bond Ferguson reported that her 16-year-old son alerted her to a potential sighting of the monkey in their yard. Seizing her firearm, she stepped outside and spotted the animal approximately 60 feet away.

Bond highlighted her community's concerns regarding diseases affiliated with the escaped monkeys and decided to fire her weapon. I did what any other mother would do to protect her children, she stated. Witnesses reported that after a couple of shots, the monkey retreated before ultimately succumbing to its injuries.

The Jasper County Sheriff's Office confirmed the incident via their social media, acknowledging that a homeowner had discovered the monkey. The local wildlife department took charge of the situation afterward.

The escaped monkeys, part of a shipment from Tulane University National Biomedical Research Center, were being transported when the truck lost control. Though they are not owned by the university, it routinely facilitates the use of primates for research.