Virginia Councilman Set on Fire in Office Attack

A city councilman in Virginia was savagely set on fire by a lunatic who stormed into his workplace carrying gallons of fuel and ignited the lawmaker Wednesday morning in the latest sickening attack against an American elected official.

Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler was allegedly set on fire after Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, barged into Showcase Magazine, a local monthly publication, and dumped a five-gallon bucket of gasoline on the pol around 11:30 a.m., according to the Danville Police Department and the outlet’s publisher, Andrew Brooks.

Vogler, a 38-year-old married father of two, managed to escape the office and ran to the front of the building, but the monster followed him and torched him.

“This type of senseless act of violence has to stop,” Brooks said in an emotional video published on Facebook Wednesday morning, where he described the horrifying moment Hayes “forced his way” into their offices and drenched the councilman with the fire accelerant.

“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.”

First responders rendered aid to the pol, who identified his suspected attacker at the harrowing scene, before he was airlifted to a hospital in North Carolina.

The extent of Vogler’s injuries is unknown, but Brooks noted he was awake and talking following the terrifying incident and was being taken to a burn center in Lynchburg.

“Urgent prayers are needed for my son Lee Vogler,” his devastated mom, Rhonda, wrote on Facebook, mere hours after honoring the 8th anniversary of her own mother’s death.

“I believe in the power of prayer. I told Lee God’s got him and we’re praying for him. I appreciate all of you and your prayers.”

Hayes, a Danville resident, initially fled the horrific scene and was captured in his vehicle several blocks from where he allegedly lit the local politician ablaze, according to police.

Authorities said Vogler and Hayes are known to each other, but added the attack stems from a personal matter that is not related to the councilman’s elected position or political affiliation.

The deranged arsonist has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding, police said.

He is being held without bond at the Danville City Jail.

The investigation is ongoing.

A ‘dedicated public servant’

“Our prayers go out to Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler who was violently attacked at his workplace earlier today,” Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin posted on X.

“We pray for a swift recovery Lee and for peace to be on the entire Danville community.”

Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones thanked first responders for their swift action but noted that city officials are “hurting” in the wake of Vogler’s vicious attack.

“Lee is a member of our City Council family. And today, that family is hurting,” Jones said in a statement.

“Our Council is close. We’ve worked through challenges together – and now, we face this heartbreak together. Please continue to pray for Lee and his family. We’re standing with him – and with each other.”

Vogler was elected to the Danville City Council in May 2012, becoming the youngest person ever elected to that position at the age of 24, according to his bio.

The four-term councilman 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.

The Danville native also serves on the Virginia Small Business Commission, a position Youngkin appointed him to in July 2022, according to his Linkedin, and is a member of the Virginia Young Republicans.

“The Young Republican Federation of Virginia is shocked and deeply saddened by the brutal attack on our friend, fellow young Republican, and dedicated public servant, Councilman Lee Vogler,” the conservative organization said in a statement.

“Lee has been a tireless advocate for his city and for the Commonwealth, and we know the strength of his spirit will carry him through this difficult time. Political differences or personal grievances should never escalate to violence. We condemn this heinous act in the strongest possible terms and call for swift justice.”

Vogler, who is deeply committed to Danville’s youth, also attends Compassion Church with his wife, Blair, and his two kids, Kingston and Ava, according to his re-election site, which states he campaigned last year on lowering taxes, supporting small business and better pay for police, firefighters and first responders.

Wednesday’s attack is the latest in a disturbing wave of violence targeting elected officials, including President Trump, who narrowly escaped death when a would-be assassin fired at him during a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pa. The then-candidate was struck in the ear before the 20-year-old gunman was taken out by a Secret Service sniper.

Last month, former Minnesota Democratic House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband Mark and beloved family dog, Gilbert, were gunned down and killed in their Minneapolis home in a twisted, politically motivated attack. Alleged assassin, Vance Boelter, is also accused of shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who both survived.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home was firebombed overnight during Passover in April by a deranged attacker allegedly motivated by antisemitism while the Jewish lawmaker and his family slept.

Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer was also the victim of a domestic terror scheme aimed at abducting the lawmaker and overthrowing the state government in 2020.