A Danville, Virginia, City Councilman Lee Vogler was doused in gasoline and set on fire in his office on Tuesday.
According to reports, the attacker, identified as Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, threw five gallons of gasoline on Vogler before setting him on fire.
Showcase Magazine’s Andrew Brooks said the attacker forced his way in the magazine’s office as Vogler was visiting and poured a five-gallon container of gas on him.
“Lee attempted to flee, ran to the front of the building,” Showcase Magazine owner Andrew Brooks said in a Facebook video. “The individual followed him and set him on fire.”
Vogler was flown to the UNC burn unit in Chapel Hill, according to WSET.
The Daily Mail reported:
A Virginia lawmaker was doused in ‘five gallons’ of gasoline and set alight in the middle of his office.
Danville City councilman Lee Vogler was at his place of work at Showcase Magazine when he was attacked.
The assailant forced his way into the magazine’s offices on Wednesday and poured the fuel on top of him, according to the outlet’s publisher and owner Andrew Brooks.
Vogler attempted to flee but was pursued by the suspect to the front of the building where he set him on fire, Brooks added.
The lawmaker was described as ‘awake and talking’ as he was raced to the burns center in Lynchburg.
“J. Lee Vogler was elected to Danville City Council in May 2012, becoming the youngest person ever elected to that position, at age 24. A native of Danville, Mr. Vogler graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. He is currently employed as the Managing Partner for Andrew Brooks Media Group,” according to Vogler’s bio.
Update: The Danville Police Department released a statement:
The Danville Police Department is investigating after a male was set on fire Wednesday, July 30.
Around 11:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Main Street for a report of a male being set on fire.
The Danville Fire Department and the Danville Life Saving Crew also responded to the scene to render aid. The male victim was airlifted to a regional medical facility for treatment. The full extent of his injuries are not known at the time of this release.
Based on witness information provided to officers at the scene, the suspect entered into the victim’s place of employment, confronted him and doused him with a flammable liquid. The victim and suspect exited the building, where the suspect then set the victim on fire.
The suspect fled the scene, however witness information provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Officers located and stopped the vehicle several blocks from the incident and the driver was taken into custody without incident.
The driver, Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, was identified as the suspect in the attack and is currently in police custody.
The Danville Police Department does not typically identify living victims in media releases, however due to his public position as an elected official, the victim of this attack was identified as Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler, 38, of Danville.
Based on the investigation at the time of this release, the victim and the suspect are known to each other and the attack stems from a personal matter not related to the victim’s position on Danville City Council or any other political affiliation.
Due to the ongoing investigation, the Danville Police Department will not provide any further details about the incident itself, however charge information will be forthcoming.
