Jury finds Albany restaurant attacker guilty of assault, robbery
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- An Albany County jury has found a man guilty of assault and robbery charges after attacking a restaurant worker in May 2024. On Monday morning, the Albany County District Attorney's Office said the jury returned quickly with the guilty verdict for Lucas Healey, 43, of Albany.
Healey was found guilty of attacking a restaurant co-owner on May 29, 2024, at Shogun Sushi and Sake Bar on Madison Avenue. Shogun's Manager Raymond Ren said Healey had a bill over $400 and tried to leave after paying $50.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled with the efforts of my office to bring the defendant to justice,” said District Attorney Lee Kindlon. "I want to make sure that everybody on Lark Street knows that we’re here. We’re going to protect them. We’re going to do everything we can to make sure it remains a vibrant part of Albany going forward.”
Healey punched Su Wen Zheng multiple times after he attempted to intervene as Healey tried to flee. Police said Zheng was knocked unconscious during the assault, seriously injured, and is still recovering from the surgery he underwent. Prosecutor Ryan Carty gave an update on Zheng's condition.
“I can tell you that he is doing better than when this incident happened and the hope is that he was continuing to make strides to recover, but his life has been altered irrevocably," said Carty.
The verdict was welcomed news to Lark Street Business Improvement District (B.I.D.) Chairman Patrick Noonan. He owns El Loco Mexican Cafe, right next door in Shogun.
“Just tough to see when you see someone every day and then you see something like that happen to them. Like I said it sent shockwaves to me personally and my staff here and I’m sure their staff there at Shogun and the whole community and it was very sad. It still is. But you pick up and you try to move forward and I’m just very thankful that there were bystanders there that day who were able to help, not only that day but it sounds like in the courtroom as well," said Noonan.
The Lark Street B.I.D. chairman said it sends one message to criminals.
“Do not come down here and cause trouble. You’re going to get caught and you’re going to go to jail. We continue to encourage people to come down here and support small businesses and shop and dine and enjoy Washington Park," said Noonan.
Kindlon said the surrounding neighborhoods of Lark Street are vital to Albany's economy and culture. He added that protecting the dining and nightlife scene from violence is essential.
"A man's life was altered that day because of an individual's attempt to dine and dash," Kindlon said. "But what you also saw that day was a group of people who came to the man's aid while also standing up to the defendant. It's a testament to the good nature of our community."
Surveillance video captured the assault and robbery. Healey was brought to trial after rejecting a plea deal of a 20-year sentence in August.
Charges
- First-degree robbery
- First-degree assault
- Second-degree robbery
- Third-degree assault
Healey is scheduled for sentencing on March 28 at 9:30 a.m. where he faces a potential sentence of 25 years to life in prison. His sentencing is up to the judge's discretion of persistent felon status.