Crime & Safety

NJ Man Charged in Philadelphia Wedding Brawl

A post-wedding fight in Philadelphia has left one man, reportedly an uncle of the bride, dead of a heart attack. New Jersey resident Matthew Sofka was an alleged participant in the fight.

A booze-fueled wedding reception brawl at the Sheraton Society Hill in Philadelphia this weekend has led to charges against at least one man from New Jersey, according to ABC news.

Philadelphia police charged Matthew Sofka, 26, of the 500 block of Edgar Road in Westfield, Union County, with assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and rioting.

An alcohol-fueled altercation between two different wedding parties began in the lobby of the Sheraton Society Hill and escalated to involve as many as 100 people, overtaking the hotel bar, according to a witness.

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A video of the ruckus, which shows numerous police officers trying to control the crowd in the lobby, garnered more than 565,000 views on YouTube through Monday afternoon.

Attempting to avoid the melee, a 57-year-old man reported to be an uncle of the bride had a heart attack outside the hotel and died. His name has not been released at this time. 

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Sofka was also charged with assaulting an officer and more charges could be filed as the investigation continues, police said. He was held by police Sunday.

Patch will update this story as more information becomes available.


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