Lee Vogler, a 38-year-old councilman from Danville, Virginia, was violently assaulted on Wednesday. The shooting took place inside the offices of Showcase magazine, where he is employed. The incident, which occurred around 11:30 AM, left Vogler hospitalized after he was set on fire by 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, a local resident known to him.
According to witnesses, both Vogler and Hayes left the bar just before the violent assault took place. It was during this time that Hayes incompletely lit Vogler on fire. The Danville Police Department deemed the incident a “personal matter.” They made clear that this had nothing to do with Vogler’s partisan position as a politician or any partisanship he could be associated with.
The police blamed the lack of emergency response in the immediate aftermath of the attack. That urgency led to quick action from emergency responders—the Danville fire department and the Danville Life Saving Crew. Detailed written by Kelly McCarthy Vogler attempted to flee the scene by running away from the structure. Hayes did not let up, which eventually pushed him to commit the unimaginable crime.
“An individual forced his way into our office, carrying a five-gallon bucket of gasoline, and poured the gasoline on Lee,” said Andrew Brooks, the publisher and owner of Showcase magazine.
After the collision, Vogler was airlifted to a nearby trauma medical center for treatment. He is no longer living in a coma state but is fully awake and conversing. He was soon on his way to the state’s only specialized burn center in Lynchburg, where he would receive additional treatment.
The psychological impact of the attack has further heightened fears in the local community that larger social tensions and personal rivalries may lead to future violence. Reports from police indicated that the suspect and the victim had been acquaintances.
“This type of senseless act of violence has to stop,” he stated. “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 this way.”
The attack has raised concerns within the local community about safety and personal conflicts escalating to violence. According to police reports, the suspect and victim were known to each other.
“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,” police confirmed.