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Store manager beaten with pipe during robbery

• Earlier Tuesday, the victim called police to report a hole had been cut into the side of the business, authorities say.

J.D. Sumner

ALBANY — The manager of an Albany shoe store was seriously injured after being beaten with a pipe during an armed robbery Tuesday night, police officials say.

Leslie Okasha, 49, was taken to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital after being beaten by what police believe may have been four boys at the Shoe Depot on the 2400 block of Dawson Road Tuesday night, Albany Police Spokesperson Phyllis Banks said.

The four entered the store around 8:15, beat Okasha and then fled with an unknown amount of money and store merchandise, Banks said.

“They made off with an undisclosed amount of money and some stuff from the store,” Banks said. “The victim was taken to the hospital, but she was released today.”

Banks said earlier in the day Tuesday, Okasha had filed a report with police after finding a large hole that had been cut into the business, but it was still unclear as to whether the two incidents were related.

“That is something they’re looking into, but at this point, there is no clear connection between the two incidents,” Banks said.

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