ALBANY – An Albany restaurant worker was fighting for his life Friday night after being beaten up by a patron who allegedly wouldn’t pay his dinner bill.

The ugly incident played out at the Shogun Restaurant on Madison Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

According to the Shogun manager, the man had been inside the restaurant for a good part of the afternoon, first coming in with a lady friend, who left before he did.

Between the two of them, they ordered at least nine alcoholic beverages, along with several food dishes including sushi, salad, teriyaki steaks, tuna rolls, and lobster tempura.

The bill added up to $424.44 (including tax). The manager said he initially tried to pay with a credit card, but the card only took care of about $50 worth of food. The man then allegedly left the restaurant.

When employees followed him outside, a fight broke out. Several bystanders stepped in to help, but during the melee, one of the restaurant employees was punched in the face.

“Our staff was just trying to make him pay for his bill,” said Lou Sulindro, the Shogun Manager. “If you don’t have money, just say so. You don’t need to hurt other human beings. This is so sad.”

That 49-year-old victim was rushed to Albany Medical Center, where he underwent brain surgery. On Friday night, the man, whose name NewsChannel 13 is withholding at the family’s request, remained comatose and critical. He was in a surgical ICU bed.

In the meantime, police have charged Lucas Healey, 42, of Albany, with first-degree robbery, third-degree assault, theft of services, and two minor drug counts for allegedly possessing cocaine.

“The irony here is that members of my office and members of the Albany Police Department and the Restaurant Association had been here just merely hours before,” said Albany County District Attorney David Soares. “We were having discussions about people who were being aggressive, people who were patronizing these restaurants who decide they’re going to leave without paying. So for this to happen is disturbing.”