Dine-and-dasher gets 22 years for attack that put New York restaurant owner in a coma

A man who left a restaurant co-owner in Albany, New York, with severe brain injuries after attempting to skip out on his bill was sentenced to 22 years in prison on Friday.

Lucas Healey, 43, dined at Shogun Sushi and Sake Bar for two hours on May 29, 2024, building up a tab over $400 before trying to leave when his credit card processed only a $50 payment. Staff chased him down Madison Avenue, where he punched co-owner Su Wen Zheng multiple times. Zheng was knocked backward, striking his head on the pavement.

Healey also allegedly yelled racial epithets at staff, but prosecutors never filed hate crime charges despite initial consideration. Zheng spent nearly two weeks in a coma and nearly two months hospitalized.

Judge Roger McDonough imposed the 22-year term plus five years supervision, though he did not classify Healey as a repeat offender despite prior convictions for reckless endangerment and attempted robbery. Still, the judge dismissed Healey’s “faux remorse,” noting he blamed his Irish background, foster care history and unsubstantiated brain injury while denying he started the fight.

Zheng’s wife, Yaying Chen, has described her husband’s severe disabilities, including the inability to tell time, recognize colors or name fruits, with communication failures causing head-banging frustration. A GoFundMe campaign had raised $62,150 for Zheng’s medical bills.

Healey rejected a previous 20-year plea deal and will serve concurrent sentences.