Jessica Bond Ferguson can breathe a sigh of relief. The Mississippi mother who shot an escaped research monkey in her backyard will not face any charges, according to the Jasper County Sheriff.
“She feared for her kids’ safety,” Sheriff Randy Johnson told TMZ, defending Ferguson’s actions even though the monkey wasn’t showing aggression at the time. A video of the incident shows the primate falling from a tree after being hit by a single gunshot.
Ferguson said she made the tough decision to protect her children “at all costs” and wished there had been another way. Authorities now agree she acted lawfully.
The monkey was one of three that went missing after a truck carrying 21 monkeys from a Tulane research lab overturned in Jasper County last week. Thirteen were recovered at the crash site, five were killed by deputies, and two were later shot by locals, including Ferguson. One monkey remains unaccounted for.
While Tulane officials insist the monkeys were not infected, concerns remain in the community. The primates are known to carry diseases like herpes, Hepatitis C, and even COVID.
Still, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife confirmed they’re not pursuing any action against Ferguson. The sheriff echoed those sentiments, saying people are simply trying to protect their families.
