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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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Related Topics: Matthew Sofka and Philadelphia Wedding Brawl

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!

Reply

Go Big Blue

1:35 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Philly wedding, typical Eagles fan no doubt.

Reply

Turf Fan

3:23 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

Typical Edgar Road experience......No turf field but plenty of alcohol in their system

Reply

Wally Westfield

7:57 pm on Monday, October 8, 2012

really?

this needs to be posted on the Westfield Patch,

Why?

Reply

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.

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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

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Elizabeth

10:19 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Yeah Sheila, Obama is responsible for this too! @@!

Reply

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.

Reply

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