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Subscribe to RSSPolice in Philadelphia are investigating a wild scene at a hotel where a brawl broke out between two wedding parties that ended with injuries, arrests and one man's death from a heart attack. NBC's Katy Tur reports.
A New Jersey man who wound up being Tased by police has been identified as one of the main troublemakers in a brawl between two wedding parties at a Philadelphia hotel, authorities said.
Philadelphia police say they booked 26-year-old Matthew Sofka of Westfield, N.J., on charges including assault on police, inciting a riot and reckless endangerment.
Sofka was a guest at a family member’s wedding at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel when a brawl broke out with another wedding party about 1:30 am. Sunday. Police called in extra patrols to quell the 75- to 100-person rumble. Police say most of the fighters were drunk.
During the brawl, police used a Taser to subdue Sofka, a relative of the groom.
The uncle of one of the brides, Vincent Sannuti, 57, suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead at Jefferson University Hospital, NBCPhiladelphia.com reported. Sannuti, who was also celebrating his birthday, was not involved in the melee, according to police.
View NBCPhiladelphia.com's coverage on wedding night fallout
Portions of the chaotic brawl were caught on cellphone camera by Max Schultz, a 15-year-old guest at the hotel who was not part of the wedding parties.
"I was up on the second floor watching. It was bedlam, out of hand," said Schultz, who posted the video to YouTube. “They just started punching each other and hitting each other and the people just came in and started clubbing people.”
Philadelphia Police Sgt. Sean Dandridge was hit in the head during the melee and received treatment for concussion-like symptoms. He is expected to recover.
Dandridge’s apparent Facebook page, which says he’s a Philadelphia cop, had this message posted Monday morning: “Getting checked out at hospital. No serious neurological injury. Awaiting more tests. Mom called: "Now it's on The Good Day Show." My head started hurting again.... Doc said "Take it easy..."
In the video, a police officer is seen striking Sofka three times with a baton. Police say he was then subdued with a Taser -- an act not caught on camera. Schultz is heard on the video saying, “Did they just deck the bride? They just decked the bride.”
Police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers told The Philadelphia Inquirer it was actually not the bride, but rather a bridesmaid who had been hit.
Aside from Sofka, two other people were cited for disorderly conduct for their alleged roles in the brawl.
Police say there could be more arrests.
The hotel released a statement in response to the fight.
"We continue to cooperate with the authorities and as this is an ongoing police investigation any questions should be directed to the local police department. Our sincerest condolences go out to the family for their loss."
NBCPhiladelphia.com's Jackie Galley, Dan Stamm and Danielle Johnson and NBC News' Sevil Omer contributed to this report.
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I now pronounce you Guido and Guidette.
Condolences to the family who lost their uncle.
Snooki in the house...idiots...jersey should just be broken up into portions and divied up amongst other states. It is the butthole of the US and such a @!$%#hole!
.
Italians
I can just imagine what the 1 years anniversary party is going to be like. Get the riot police ready.
Hey stupid Vivian, they're not Italians!! The guy that was arrested is Matthew Sofka!! Besides that, real Italians lives in Italy, the Italians that you see on tv (Sopranos, Jersey Shore or in a USA wedding, not this one!) are Italian American, nothing to do with Italy today. Hope you don't teach your "hatred" to your kids, shame on you, you're such an ignorant!
Holy Smoke. What a way to begin a life together. To think twenty-five years ago we had our wedding and all we did was go to church, eat, drink, dance and socialize....
I certainly don't have clue what went down in this case, most likely cams were running and the cops behaved properly--but in my small home town America the bad cops would beat the hell out of some one just for fun without any provocation and then charge him with assault to justify the beating and they almost always get away with it. So I'm always a bit skeptical. (I don't have a problem with cops and know of many very fine respectable, patient and self controlled ones, but the job also attracts plenty of miserable thugs.)
Whew...what a relief?!!! When I saw the article title, I starting thinking that these were black people.
Alcohol + Jerks = New Jersey wedding.
Hey Pluto - a little bit of profiling going on there, huh? Pretty ridiculous comment - are you the Troll du Jour?
This is pathetic. Some people shouldn't be let out of their house. So two weddings were ruined and a guy died. Who knows if he died because of the chaos but I am sure it didn't help. All because a bunch of drunk people wanted to fist pump people's face. If I was the bride I would get an anullment ASAP!
Jersey Shore influence. Monkey see, monkey do.
Wow - - a bunch of drunk loud mouths from Jersey - - having "harmless" fun in Philly - - should have Tased them all!!!!!
Poor straight people. They have no idea what marriage is about.
I admit I chuckled.
Not many people do, straight or not.
I suggest Cannabis refreshments at your next wedding - stop the violence.
Yep Bob, before they are allowed to enter:
Attention all you Philly AHoles!! You must place all your roadie cocktails in the trash bin outside and remove all alcohol minis and flasks from your person. Finally, you must take three deep bong hits before entering. Now go in peace and harmony Vinny and Marie.
And Vinny and Marie were probably having sex an hour after this all happened. Guido cave-dwellers.
rj, you are probably right. They call that fighting and F. It is a southern thing but I am sure it is universal.
I must admit Bob, that my first thought was, if they were partaking in some sweet leaf this wouldn't have happened.
Yeah I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the party from Jersey that was crashing the open bar at the other party's reception.
What appalling people.
Now that the couples see what their new families are like, maybe the smart ones will make a run for it. There are worse things than being single. Holidays and family reunions with a bunch of monkeys is certainly right up there.
Bwahahahaha! Jersey. Figures.
Hey! We are decent, kind people who have a beautiful home in NEW JERSEY. Not everybody in NEW JERSEY act like this... Don't generalize. It is bad form.
Class acts.
The article states: "Sofka was a guest at a family member’s wedding at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel when a brawl broke out with another wedding party about 1:30 am." It does not appear to be an internal fight between the groom/bride family, but actually another wedding party altogether ---- right? Either way, it is still unacceptable, but just trying to be clear on what happened. This is like an episode of the Jersey shore ---
I read another article and it said that "one party had an open bar and the other party had to pay for drinks, the patrons from the paying party crashed the open bar and went back to the other guests and told them what a great idea it was to crash the open bar." A fight broke out when the open bar party asked for the paying party to pay up for the stolen drinks but the party crashers refused and basically told them to F**k off, laughed at them, and then the fight ensued.
Jersey Breeders! Sheesh! What a surprise.....And no dressing up doesn't give you class.
Another fine case of "You can dress 'em up, but you can't take 'em out!"
A lovely lesson on being careful who you invite to your parties. Bet we find out that this fool wasn't even related. Probably just a date.
This shmo ruined 2 weddings and most likely caused, either directly and indirectly, Mr. Sannuti's death.
I hope he's proud of himself. (Look y'all, watch this!.....)
My sincere condolences to Mr. Sannuti's family.
Hilarious. Simply hilarious. Of course, except the guy who died on his birthday. That's just sad.
Hilarious? really? Whole mess is just sad...
The only time the chief was telling the truth in his life was in the resignation letter that he will remain active in the Detroit community during his forced early retirement. What he really meant is that there are ton of bitches and Hos left in the police department that he can make a booty call to from time to time. This should not come a shock to anyone that a black man would do something like this. Oh, now most of you might think this is a racist remark. It is not, just flag down any black man and ask him and he would tell your, hey brother you ain't lyng!!!! If you are not satisfied at this point just ask any black sister and i am sure she would concur.
Here it is...the Jersey Shore mentality in full swing. If one of these idiot families doesn't get their own show on TLC or MTV I'll be amazed.
Sounds like the old joke, but different. I went to a hockey game and a wedding broke out.
Is a Jersey Thing!! LOL
The very pathetic thing about this whole news story is that after seeing the headline I said "Must've been Philly".
Matthew Sofka is from Westfield, New Jersey, located 20 miles west of New York City.
Also, a vast majority of individuals arrested at our sporting venues are from Cherry hill, New Jersey. (i.e. the individual who vomited on the cop and his daughter last year). Unfortunately, its hard to fit the whole story in a head line... but it's pretty easy to assume. And, I'm sure you have heard the quote about assuming.
Please don't visit!
South Jersey, Philly....same difference as they like to say.
Goddamn white people. Always rioting at wedding parties n shiznit.
FaceBook, the outlet for losers! WTF posts anything out there? Effing losers!!
Yet another reason why I don't drink, nor will there be any alcohol at my wedding
My buddy tried that and his reception was over the second dinner was done because everyone left!
Devils son ,,,, what is wrong with everyone leaving soon after dinner. Once the gifts are in hand lets get the honeymoon started.... My wife and I eloped . Just decided one day to go get married. No party no big wedding. We made it 37 years . She passed away in 08 or Saturday would have been 40 years. I have been lucky enough to find another and we did much the same thing. No guests just she and I and no trouble to taint the occation.
Avenger, what was wrong was the bride and groom expected the party(?) to continue for another 6 hours without liquor.
Wait, a fifteen year old male used the word bedlam to describe this? Amazing.
Agreed, BB. Quite possibly, the cameraboy was the best-educated hotel guest present.
Obviously not the product of the public school system.
Can we just watch the f*cking video without having to watch a f*cking COMMERCIAL?
No, this America you must watch and you must buy!
Just get Adblock like everyone else.
Pay to play.
Ah Alcohol... a legal substance with some of the most lethal types of properties.
Maybe they should have all smoked a joint, far better for your health and who knows, maybe it would have escalated into a food fight.
Like many readers, I had assumed when I read the headline that the party goers (or at least the ones who initiated the brawl) were black. I have seen dozens of news videos of such melees in public places over the years. This is the first one that I can remember that involved white people--something I find appalling. These idiots should be ashamed of themselves for behaving like uncivilized savages.
me too. Then I realized it didn't say 14 were killed when two opened fire with AK 47s and 9mms
I'm offended, We're not down with AK47s. Too hard to do the electric slide with one shoved down the front of our pants.
Another profiling racist - Troll du Jour, Take 2
Can I friend you? Mpls you are way funnier than these trolls imagine they are. When I read the headline I didn't think race, because I'm not a racists, I thought what a bunch of morons. The 15 year old is smarter than they are.
And the best part of the article is
Still a man decked a woman, whether it had been the bride or the bridesmaid it is just wrong. I watched the video and didn't see why she deserved to be decked, she comes in frame and BOOM she is knocked the @!$%# out.