A Mississippi mother said she shot and killed one of the monkeys that escaped after a truck overturned last week, fearing it posed a threat to her children and others in the neighborhood.

Jessica Bond Ferguson told The Associated Press that she was in bed Sunday when her 16-year-old son alerted her to a monkey running through the yard of their home near Heidelberg. Bond Ferguson said she grabbed her cellphone and a firearm before stepping outside and spotting the animal about 60 feet away.

Bond Ferguson, a 35-year-old professional chef, said she opened fire out of concern for her children’s safety.

"I did what any other mother would do to protect her children," said Bond Ferguson, who has five children ranging in age from 4 to 16. "I shot at it and it just stood there, and I shot again, and he backed up and that's when he fell."

ESCAPED MONKEYS FROM MISSISSIPPI TRUCK CRASH PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON NIH-FUNDED TULANE LAB

The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Sunday that a homeowner found one of the escaped monkeys on their property that morning. In a social media post, the sheriff’s office said the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks had taken custody of the animal but offered no further details.

Before Bond Ferguson stepped outside, she said she called police and was told to keep an eye on the monkey. But she hesitated, worried that if it got away, it could pose a threat to children at a nearby home.

"If it attacked somebody's kid, and I could have stopped it, that would be a lot on me," said Bond Ferguson. "It's kind of scary and dangerous that they are running around, and people have kids playing in their yards."

A truck transporting 21 rhesus monkeys overturned Tuesday on Interstate 59 near Heidelberg, Mississippi, setting off a days-long search for the escaped animals.

QUADRUPLE MURDER SUSPECT AUSTIN DRUMMOND CAPTURED AFTER INTENSIVE TENNESSEE SEARCH

According to Tulane University, 13 monkeys were located at the crash site and successfully transported to their intended destination last week. Five were killed during the search effort, while three remained unaccounted for until one was recovered Sunday by a homeowner, officials said.

The monkeys were housed at the Tulane National Primate Research Center in New Orleans, which supplies primates to scientific research organizations. In a statement, Tulane clarified that the animals were not owned by the university, nor were they being transported by university personnel.

Jasper County Sheriff Randy Johnson said initial reports from the truck's occupants warned that the monkeys were dangerous and potentially carried diseases. However, Tulane officials later confirmed the monkeys had recently received health screenings and were pathogen-free.

Despite that, Johnson noted that authorities still considered the animals a threat due to their aggressive nature and stated they needed to be "neutralized."

The status of the two remaining at-large monkeys was unclear as of the latest update.

The Mississippi Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred about 100 miles from Jackson, the state capital.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

When my father came to America from Jamaica, he had just $1.75 in his pocket. What he carried with him was not wealth or influence, but faith, discipline and common sense. He believed that through education and hard work, anything is possible in America.

His story is my story, and it is the story of Virginia. It is about hope, opportunity and the belief that government should serve the people, not the other way around.

Virginians want to know: Do you see me? Do you know me? Do you care about me? That is the Virginia I fight for every day. A Virginia where people can raise their families safely, send their children to good schools and afford to keep the lights on. 

I returned to politics – after being gone for 20 years – because too many politicians in Richmond and Washington have forgotten that leadership is about service. They are more interested in power than progress. That is why my closing message to Virginians is simple: it is time for common sense, not nonsense.

VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS HAVE A VIOLENCE PROBLEM

Safety that works for everyone

Every Virginian deserves to feel safe in their home, in their neighborhood, and on their way to work and school. As a U.S. Marine, I have stood shoulder to shoulder with law enforcement officers and corrections personnel because they are the ones who respond when danger calls. I believe in accountability, but I also believe in respect for the rule of law and those who protect us. 

Jay Jones and others in his party have turned safety into a political issue instead of a public priority. His murderous fantasies have no place in Virginia. We deserve leaders who speak responsibly and act with integrity. And when Democratic Party leaders like Abigail Spanberger cannot call on Jay Jones to resign, it’s disqualifying at best. 

Education changed my life. My father used it to lift himself out of poverty, and I have seen firsthand how it opens doors that seemed closed. That is why as a former vice president of the Virginia State Board of Education, I believe parents must be partners in their children’s education. Parents deserve to know what their kids are learning and to make the best education choices for their families. 

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Abigail Spanberger calls that extreme. I call it common sense. Our schools should be teaching reading, writing, math and history, not political agendas. Every child deserves a classroom focused on learning and character, not division. 

Energy prices are not just numbers on a bill. They determine whether families can afford groceries, heat and gas. I believe in an all-of-the-above approach because the cost of energy is added to everything that is produced. We can keep costs low, protect our environment responsibly and make Virginia energy independent. By focusing on innovation instead of ideology, we can have cleaner air and lower costs at the same time.

Abigail Spanberger and her allies have accepted millions of dollars from green activist groups that want to dictate how Virginians live and work. Their plans would raise energy prices and hurt small businesses. That is not leadership. That is nonsense. I am fighting for energy policies that make sense for working families and strengthen Virginia’s economy.

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Throughout this campaign I have met parents, small business owners, veterans and young people who are all asking for the same thing. They want leaders who listen, who lead with principle and who remember that common sense still matters. They do not want mealy-mouthed politicians.

This election is not about me. It is about you, Virginians! It is about whether we allow the nonsense raging in Richmond to divide us or whether we stand together to build a commonwealth that works for everyone.

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It is time to put faith back in leadership. It is time to return transparency and accountability to government. It is time for unity grounded in hard work, respect and love for Virginia. It is time to let the wounds of Virginia’s past heal.

It is time for common sense, not nonsense.