In a shocking incident, a city councilman in Virginia was brutally attacked and set ablaze at his workplace by an individual who stormed the premises with gallons of fuel. The councilman, Lee Vogler, a member of the Danville City Council, was allegedly targeted by 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes. The incident occurred at Showcase Magazine, a local monthly publication, where Hayes reportedly dumped a five-gallon bucket of gasoline on Vogler around 11:30 a.m., as per the Danville Police Department and the magazine’s publisher, Andrew Brooks.
Vogler, a 38-year-old married father of two, managed to escape the office and run to the front of the building. However, his assailant pursued him and set him on fire. Brooks, in a video published on Facebook, condemned the horrifying act of violence and called for an end to such senseless attacks.
First responders provided immediate aid to Vogler, who was able to identify his attacker at the scene. He was subsequently airlifted to a hospital in North Carolina. The extent of his injuries remains unknown, but according to Brooks, Vogler was conscious and able to communicate following the incident. He was later transported to a burn center in Lynchburg.
Hayes, a resident of Danville, initially fled the scene but was apprehended in his vehicle several blocks away. Authorities have stated that Vogler and Hayes were acquainted, but the attack was a result of a personal dispute and not related to Vogler’s political position or affiliation. Hayes has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding and is currently held without bond at the Danville City Jail.
Vogler, who was elected to the Danville City Council in May 2012 at the age of 24, is the youngest person ever to hold that position. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in political science and is the managing partner for Andrew Brooks Media Group. Vogler also serves on the Virginia Small Business Commission and is a member of the Virginia Young Republicans.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin and Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones expressing their concern and praying for Vogler’s swift recovery. The Young Republican Federation of Virginia also issued a statement condemning the attack and calling for swift justice.
This incident is part of a disturbing trend of violence against elected officials, including an assassination attempt on President Trump during a 2024 campaign rally and the murder of former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her family in a politically motivated attack.