02-18-2009, 12:10 AM
By Andrew Pergam
NBCNewYork.com
updated 11:18 a.m. ET, Tues., Feb. 17, 2009
A pet chimpanzee - who had appeared in TV commercials and shows - got loose at a home in Stamford, Connecticut, Monday afternoon and attacked a woman before being shot dead by cops, according to police. The woman was in critical condition after the brutal attack, which was not the first time the animal had been on the loose.
His owner, Sandra Herold, 70, had called a friend over to help when "Travis" began misbehaving at 241 Rock Rimmon Road. The chimp had taken the keys to the car. He was also trying to open car doors, which he apparently did to indicate he wanted to go for a ride. Herold was able to coax Travis back to the house and she gave him some Xanax-laced tea, police said.
When the friend, Charla Nash, 55, of Stamford, arrived minutes later, the 200-pound chimp bolted outside and began brutally attacking Nash as she was getting out of her car, leaving her with severe facial injuries. She was in "very critical condition," according to police, and her condition had not improved considerably Tuesday.
Travis' owner had attempted to stop the attack by stabbing the chimp with a butcher knife. When that didn't work, she called 911, according to police. When they arrived, the officers escorted emergency medical personnel to the victim and evacuated the area because children were playing nearby.
Travis then charged at the cops, smashed a car window and opened the door to a police cruiser where an officer was taking cover. That officer shot the chimp several times and Travis ran off. Police followed a trail of blood through the house and found Travis dead in his living quarters in the back of the house, said police. He had several gunshot wounds, police said.
This was not Travis's first run-in with the law.
On Oct. 19, 2003, Travis escaped from his owner's SUV and went running through the streets. More than a dozen police officers chased around after him at the time.
In a newspaper article at the time, police said the chimp, then 10, was toilet trained. He reportedly dressed himself, ate at the table and drank wine. He could use a computer and remote control.
He starred in Old Navy and Coca-Cola commercials and even appeared on the Maury Povich Show, according to an article in the Stamford Advocate.
Travis's owner, Sandra Herold, 70, is also hospitalized. She might have had a mild heart attack, people at the scene reported, but Stamford Hospital was not releasing any information about her condition.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29227155/
NBCNewYork.com
updated 11:18 a.m. ET, Tues., Feb. 17, 2009
A pet chimpanzee - who had appeared in TV commercials and shows - got loose at a home in Stamford, Connecticut, Monday afternoon and attacked a woman before being shot dead by cops, according to police. The woman was in critical condition after the brutal attack, which was not the first time the animal had been on the loose.
His owner, Sandra Herold, 70, had called a friend over to help when "Travis" began misbehaving at 241 Rock Rimmon Road. The chimp had taken the keys to the car. He was also trying to open car doors, which he apparently did to indicate he wanted to go for a ride. Herold was able to coax Travis back to the house and she gave him some Xanax-laced tea, police said.
When the friend, Charla Nash, 55, of Stamford, arrived minutes later, the 200-pound chimp bolted outside and began brutally attacking Nash as she was getting out of her car, leaving her with severe facial injuries. She was in "very critical condition," according to police, and her condition had not improved considerably Tuesday.
Travis' owner had attempted to stop the attack by stabbing the chimp with a butcher knife. When that didn't work, she called 911, according to police. When they arrived, the officers escorted emergency medical personnel to the victim and evacuated the area because children were playing nearby.
Travis then charged at the cops, smashed a car window and opened the door to a police cruiser where an officer was taking cover. That officer shot the chimp several times and Travis ran off. Police followed a trail of blood through the house and found Travis dead in his living quarters in the back of the house, said police. He had several gunshot wounds, police said.
This was not Travis's first run-in with the law.
On Oct. 19, 2003, Travis escaped from his owner's SUV and went running through the streets. More than a dozen police officers chased around after him at the time.
In a newspaper article at the time, police said the chimp, then 10, was toilet trained. He reportedly dressed himself, ate at the table and drank wine. He could use a computer and remote control.
He starred in Old Navy and Coca-Cola commercials and even appeared on the Maury Povich Show, according to an article in the Stamford Advocate.
Travis's owner, Sandra Herold, 70, is also hospitalized. She might have had a mild heart attack, people at the scene reported, but Stamford Hospital was not releasing any information about her condition.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29227155/