A wedding celebration in Westlake, Ohio, was disrupted by a significant brawl stemming from a long-standing family feud, leading to guest injuries and three arrests. The incident occurred on August 21 at the La Centre Banquet Facility. Police responded to calls reporting a fight that began inside the venue and spilled into the parking lot.
Authorities arrested Ali Wahdan, 47, Raed Mahmoud Sulaiman, 46, and Abdallah Wahdan, 48. Sulaiman faces charges of assault, inducing panic, and tampering with evidence after allegedly threatening guests with a butter knife, which he then discarded as officers arrived. Abdallah Wahdan was charged with aggravated menacing for allegedly threatening other attendees, while Ali Wahdan was charged with violating a temporary protection order. Police stated that Ali Wahdan was under a protection order involving individuals present at the wedding and was legally required to leave if he encountered them, but he remained at the venue.
Surveillance and body-camera footage captured the chaotic events, with a 911 call from the banquet hall's general manager describing a "bunch of people" fighting both inside and outside, with one person bleeding in a bathroom. Another caller reported being attacked. Dashcam footage showed officers arriving to a crowded parking lot, prompting calls for assistance from neighboring departments.
Officers observed guests being separated as they exited the venue. One guest told an officer that their group was attacked while dancing by "four brothers." Inside the ballroom, video showed screaming guests and men restraining Sulaiman, who appeared to be holding a butter knife. Chairs were overturned during the altercation.
Paramedics were called to treat injured guests. Police Captain Jerry Vogel confirmed that while officers knew people were injured, they were initially unaware if any weapons were involved. Investigations revealed that alcohol was not a contributing factor; the violence was attributed to animosity between the two families. Despite the disturbance and arrests, the wedding ceremony continued after order was restored by the police, with no further incidents reported. The charges against the three men were filed in Rocky River Municipal Court.