1 chimp dead, 1 tranquilized after escaping Las Vegas home, jumping on car

LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Las Vegas police say they had no choice but to kill one chimpanzee and tranquilize another after the agitated animals escaped a home and headed toward families in a neighbourhood.

Officer Marcus Martin told KLAS-TV that a caller reported a chimp atop a vehicle and another caller reported a primate banging on a police car after the escape was reported about 10 a.m. Thursday.

Martin said the chimps were very large and estimated they weighed 170 pounds (77 kilograms) or more.

Police sent out tweets calling the animal dangerous and urging residents to stay inside their cars or homes.

By noon, the chimps were both stopped. Video showed one of the animals lying face down in the middle of in a road surrounded by animal control and police cars.