Mississippi Mom Shoots Escaped Lab Monkey to Protect Her Kids [WATCH]

A Mississippi mother shot and killed one of the escaped research monkeys from a recent highway accident, saying she feared for the safety of her children after spotting the animal near her home Sunday morning.

Jessica Bond Ferguson, a mother of five living in Heidelberg, Mississippi, told the Associated Press that she was alerted by her 16-year-old son to the presence of a monkey in their yard.

When she looked outside, she said the animal was approximately 60 feet from the house.

“I did what any other mother would do to protect her children,” Ferguson told the Associated Press.

“I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that’s when he fell.”

Authorities confirmed that the monkey Ferguson shot was one of several that escaped following a truck accident in late October.

NEW: Mississippi mom sh**ts and k*lls escaped monkey from overturned truck to protect her children

“If another one come in my yard, i’mma have to take care of it too.”

Early Sunday, Ferguson’s 16-year-old son ran inside saying he saw one of the monkeys in their yard

Jessica… pic.twitter.com/7eFB3o9yMv

— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) November 3, 2025

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The vehicle, which was transporting Rhesus monkeys from the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center in Louisiana, overturned on a Mississippi highway, leading to the escape of 21 animals.

Thirteen of the monkeys were quickly recovered by law enforcement and animal control teams.

Five others were shot at the scene after an initial claim by a supervisor suggested they might be infected with COVID-19, herpes, and hepatitis C. Officials later clarified that the monkeys were not infected with any of those viruses.

That left three of the monkeys unaccounted for, prompting an ongoing search across rural areas in southeastern Mississippi.

Local authorities said another of the escaped monkeys was captured on Sunday, the same day Ferguson shot the animal near her property.

As of Sunday evening, officials confirmed that only one monkey remains unaccounted for.

The Rhesus monkeys were being transported for biomedical research purposes when the accident occurred.

The truck, traveling from the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center to another facility, overturned on a stretch of highway near Laurel, Mississippi.

Officials from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks have not stated whether Ferguson will face any charges for shooting the animal, noting that the investigation remains open.

Residents in the area had previously been advised to contact law enforcement immediately if they encountered any of the monkeys, rather than attempt to approach or capture them.

Rhesus monkeys are native to South and Southeast Asia and are commonly used in medical research due to their genetic similarity to humans.

Following the accident, the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center confirmed that none of the monkeys involved in the incident were infected with diseases, and that recovery operations had been underway in coordination with local authorities.

Heidelberg, located in Jasper County, is a small town with a population of around 1,000 residents.

Several residents had reported sightings of the escaped monkeys in nearby wooded areas over the past two weeks, prompting increased patrols and wildlife monitoring.

The incident has drawn attention from both state officials and animal welfare groups, though no official statements have been released regarding the fate of the remaining monkey.

Authorities have continued to urge the public not to engage with the animal if it is spotted and to report any sightings to local law enforcement.