A pet monkey has been found dead after a shootout between authorities and a Mexican drug cartel.
The monkey was allegedly wearing a “bulletproof” vest when it was killed along with its owner.
The shootout occurred last Tuesday in Texcaltitlan, Mexico.
Images of the spider monkey have since been shared on social media, showing it wearing a camouflage jacket, as well as a diaper and a “bullet-proof” vest.
Associated Press reported on Friday that Mexican authorities confirmed the images were real and that the monkey had sadly died after the images went viral.
While what caused the monkey’s death is still speculation, it is said to have been killed in the shootout.
“A primate was killed at the scene, which was presumably owned by a criminal who was also killed at the scene,” state prosecutors said in a recent statement, as per UNILAD.
“An autopsy will be carried out on the animal by a veterinarian specialized in the species,” they added.
Eleven gang members also died alongside the monkey after a fight broke out between the cartel and security forces in the area. This is what led to the shootout between the two.
7 of the gang members were also arrested on the scene, with some injured in the shooting.
Those uninjured appeared in court over the weekend and it has been reported they were part of the Familia Michoacana cartel, previously charged with attempted murder, along with other crimes.
It is still being decided whether the remaining cartel will face animal-trafficking charges on top of everything else.