Westfield Man Charged in Philadelphia Wedding Brawl
A post-wedding fight in Philadelphia has left one man dead of a heart attack.
Matthew Sofka, 26, of the 500 block of Edgar Road in Westfield has been charged with assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and riot by Philadelphia Police in connection with a wedding brawl that took place early Sunday morning in Philadelphia, according to ABC news.
An altercation began between two different wedding parties in the lobby of the Sheraton Society Hill, according to reports. Fueled by alcohol, the fight escalated, involving as many as 100 people, according to a witness, and took over the bar and lobby of the hotel.
A 57-year-old man, reported to be an uncle of the bride, attempting to avoid the massive melee, had a heart attack outside the hotel and died. His name has not been released at this time.
Sofka was also charged with assaulting an officer and more charges could be filed as the investigation continues, authorities stated. He was held by police Sunday.
A video of the ruckus, which shows numerous Philly officers trying to control the crowd in the lobby, garnered more than 565,000 views on YouTube through Monday afternoon.
Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.
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JERSEY GIRL
1:07 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
WOW, Jersey residents at their finest.
Wonder why everyone thinks we are "Jersey Shore".
Nice!
Go Big Blue
1:35 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Philly wedding, typical Eagles fan no doubt.
Turf Fan
3:23 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Typical Edgar Road experience......No turf field but plenty of alcohol in their system
Wally Westfield
7:57 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
really?
this needs to be posted on the Westfield Patch,
Why?
Philly Fanatic
8:40 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
Why? because its news and the guy is from Westfield. The guy must of still been upset that the turf field was voted down and took his anger out at the wedding.
Wally Westfield
10:13 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012
so the patch is now resigned to search police blotters nationally for Westfiled residents?
there is not enough corruption within the town?
sheila moore
6:04 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
America gone insane.its gonna get worse.this world that the animals are in.i bet you the devil are laughing
Elizabeth
10:19 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Yeah Sheila, Obama is responsible for this too! @@!
marci
11:24 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Why should it be kept quiet? Because he's from"westfield". But if he was from Elizabeth or Rahway everyone would want to hear about it.