A Virginia city councilman was hospitalized after a brutal attack in which he was doused with gasoline and set on fire outside his workplace in Danville on Tuesday morning.
Lee Vogler, 38, a longtime member of the Danville City Council, was targeted by 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, who allegedly entered the offices of Showcase Magazine with a five-gallon bucket of gasoline. According to witnesses and authorities, Hayes poured the flammable liquid on Vogler inside the office and then pursued him outside, where he ignited the fuel.
Vogler attempted to flee, but the suspect reportedly followed and set him ablaze just outside the building. Publisher Andrew Brooks, who was present at the time, said Vogler was able to speak and identify his attacker before being airlifted to a burn center in Lynchburg, North Carolina. Vogler remains hospitalized, but officials have said he was conscious and alert when emergency personnel arrived.
Danville police quickly located and arrested Hayes near the scene. He is being held without bond and faces multiple charges, including attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding. Investigators have stated the attack was not politically motivated, but rather the result of a personal dispute. Vogler and Hayes were known to each other, though the exact nature of their relationship has not been publicly disclosed.
The attack has shocked the Danville community and drawn statements of support from fellow officials. Governor Glenn Youngkin, local council members, and other Virginia leaders expressed outrage over the violence and offered prayers for Vogler’s recovery.
Vogler was first elected to the Danville City Council in 2012 at the age of 24, becoming the youngest member in city history. In addition to his role in local government, he works with the Andrew Brooks Media Group, which publishes Showcase Magazine.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident.
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