Virginia councilman set on fire outside workplace in 'senseless act of violence'
A councilman in Virginia was set afire outside his workplace Wednesday in what authorities say was an attack stemming from a personal matter between the official and another man.
Lee Vogler, 38, a 13-year member of the Danville, Virginia, city council, was airlifted to a regional medical facility. The extent of his injuries are unknown, Danville police said.
According to a police department release, officers responded to the 700 block of Main Street around 11:30 a.m. after a report of a man set on fire.
Witnesses told officers that the suspect confronted Vogler at his office before dousing him with a flammable liquid, police said. Both then exited the building, where the suspect allegedly set Vogler on fire.
The suspect fled but officers stopped him in his vehicle several blocks away, acting on descriptions by witnesses. Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, was arrested without incident, police said.
Police said charges will be forthcoming but that so far the investigation indicates the attack was unrelated to Vogler's position on the city council.
In an video posted on Facebook, Andrew Brooks, publisher and owner of Showcase Magazine said an individual had forced his way into the magazine's offices carrying a five-gallon bucket of gasoline before drenching Vogler with the liquid. According to its website, Vogler is sales director for the magazine, which covers southwest Virginia.
"Lee attempted to flee and ran to the front of the building," he said. "The individual followed him and set him on fire."
Brooks said Vogler was "awake and talking" and en route to a burn center in Lynchburn, Virginia.
"Our hearts and prayers are with him. Everyone here at Showcase, we don’t even really know what to say," Brooks said before becoming emotional.
"This type of senseless act of violence has to stop," he said. "You do not have the right as a human being to get upset with someone enough to lash out and attempt to harm them in any way, much less in this way."
According to Danville's city website, Vogler was the youngest person ever elected to the council when he was voted in at age 24 in May 2012. In addition to his council duties, he also serves as managing partner for Andrew Brooks Media Group in Danville.
"Today, our community was shaken by an unthinkable act of violence against Councilman Lee Vogler — our colleague, our friend, and someone we care about deeply," Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones said in a statement issued Wednesday afternoon and posted by vice mayor James Buckner. "Lee is a member of our City Council family. And today, that family is hurting.... We've worked through challenges together — and now, we face this heartbreak together."
On the social platform X, Virginia Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger wrote that she was praying for Vogler and his family.
"I’m horrified by today’s attack against a sitting public servant in Danville," Spanberger wrote. "I’m deeply grateful to Virginia's first responders for their swift action."