by Jesse & Amanda with Pike in the Morning,posted Oct 8 2012 6:30AM
Philadelphia police were called to a hotel early Sunday to break up a brawl between guests of two wedding parties, and when it was over one man was dead of a heart attack and three people were cited for crimes.
A guest at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel shot cellphone video of the brawl in the hotel lobby and posted it on YouTube.
Police said arguments started in the hotel bar and escalated to a melee not only between guests from the same wedding party but also between guests from two separate wedding parties, philly.com reported.
"There was an issue with a lot of alcohol fueling the fight," police spokesman Lt. Ray Evers was quoted as saying.
The video shows a chaotic scene in which uniformed police officers try to separate and subdue several guests. One officer is seen repeatedly striking at least one person with a baton. A woman's blood-curdling screams are also heard.
“Did they just deck the bride?” a man’s voice is heard saying on the video. “They just decked the bride.”
Two people were cited for disorderly conduct and one person was cited for assault on a police officer. That person was shocked by a Taser, according to police.
A 57-year-old man, who police say was a wedding guest, suffered a heart attack and was pronounced dead at Jefferson University Hospital.
Police say there would be more arrests.
The Sheraton Society Hill Hotel released this statement:
"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."
