One of the monkeys that escaped from a truck crash last Tuesday was shot and killed by a Mississippi homeowner on Sunday morning. Two monkeys remain on the loose.
Jessica Bond Ferguson grabbed her firearm after her 16-year-old son spotted the monkey running across their yard near Heidelberg, Mississippi.
The monkey escaped after a truck carrying 21 primates from the Tulane National Biomedical Research Center crashed on Interstate 59. A total of eight monkeys escaped and five were killed by law enforcement shortly after.
The Mississippi Department of Fish and Wildlife took possession of the deceased monkey’s body.
Tulane University said that the primates do not belong to the university and were not being transported by Tulane. Tulane also clarified that the monkeys were not infectious, despite previous reports.
Authorities advise that anyone encountering the monkeys should contact 911 and maintain their distance, as they are considered aggressive.
Editor’s note: A previous version of this article inaccurately stated that 15 monkeys were killed in the crash. No monkeys were killed in the crash.