Virginia Councilman Set on Fire in Shocking Workplace Attack
So, this is one of those stories that honestly stops you in your tracks—it’s horrifying and difficult to even process at first. In Danville, Virginia, a city council member named Lee Vogler was the victim of a truly unimaginable act of violence. He was at work—just a normal Wednesday morning at Showcase Magazine, where he also works as the sales director—when a man reportedly came into the office carrying a five-gallon bucket of gasoline.
That man, 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, allegedly confronted Vogler, poured gasoline all over him, and then set him on fire. Yes, set him on fire . Witnesses said that Vogler tried to run out of the building to get away, but the attacker followed him outside and ignited the gasoline.
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Emergency responders rushed to the scene quickly, and Vogler was airlifted to a regional burn center for treatment. As of now, officials haven’t released details about his current condition, but the fact that he was able to identify his attacker before being taken away is pretty remarkable—and it helped lead to a fast arrest. Hayes was caught just a few blocks away and is now being held without bond, charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding.
Now, what’s especially important to note here is that police have stated very clearly that this attack wasn’t political. It didn’t have anything to do with Vogler’s role on the Danville City Council or his political beliefs. They say it stemmed from a personal issue between the two men, who apparently knew each other prior to this incident.
The response from the community has been one of deep shock and support. Danville’s mayor, Alonzo Jones, said that the entire city council feels like family and that this tragedy has really shaken them. Governor Glenn Youngkin and several state lawmakers also expressed their outrage and sent messages of support for Vogler’s recovery.
Showcase Magazine, the publication where Vogler works, issued a heartfelt statement saying their thoughts and prayers are with him and his family, and they’re fully cooperating with the investigation. The magazine’s owner, Andrew Brooks, was visibly shaken in a video posted online, describing the moment the attack happened and calling for an end to senseless violence.
It’s a deeply disturbing event that has rattled not just Danville, but really anyone hearing about it. A public servant, attacked so brutally in a place where he should’ve felt safe—it’s a chilling reminder of how violence can erupt even in the most unexpected places. Let’s all hope for Lee Vogler’s full and fast recovery.
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