Residents in a South Philadelphia neighborhood tell our Investigative Team they were startled awake by loud screams early Monday morning.
The screams, they said, created panic and concern.
In the aftermath, the residents said they were angry after learning the screams were part of a test conducted in a civil case against the City of Philadelphia .
“It was so upsetting, like very loud shrieking screams,” said Rachel Robbins of South Philadelphia.
“It was this blood-curdling scream, and it was a series of four or five screams,” added Allison Sacks a neighbor.
“How long did it last?” asked Action News’ Chad Pradelli.
“A good hour,” Sacks replied.
The city solicitor’s office told Action News those screams were part of a sound test as part of discovery in the civil case of Termaine Hicks.
Hicks was convicted of rape at 15th and Mifflin streets back in 2001. He served 19 years in prison until a judge vacated his conviction at the request of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office in 2020.