GOP lawmaker set on fire during attack in Virginia

A Republican city council member from Danville, Virginia, was hospitalized on Wednesday after a suspect poured gasoline on him and set him on fire at his workplace.

In a Wednesday press release, the Danville Police Department confirmed that police officers were dispatched at roughly 11:30 a.m. after receiving a report of a male individual being “set on fire.” 

The press release explained that the Danville Fire Department and the Danville Life Saving Crew were also dispatched to the scene to provide aid to the victim. While officials noted that the victim, who has been identified as 38-year-old Republican City Councilman Lee Vogler, was airlifted to a medical facility, the full extent of Vogler’s injuries was not immediately released.

“Based on witness information provided to officers at the scene, the suspect entered into the victim’s place of employment, confronted him and doused him with a flammable liquid,” the Danville Police Department stated. “The victim and suspect exited the building, where the suspect then set the victim on fire.”

In a video on Facebook, Andrew Brooks, the publisher and owner of Showcase Magazine, confirmed that Wednesday’s incident took place at the magazine’s office in Danville. Brooks claimed that the suspect “forced his way” into the magazine office with a “five-gallon bucket of gasoline,” poured the gasoline on Vogler, and set him on fire while the city council member, who is also a magazine employee, attempted to flee.

The suspect, who has been identified as 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, fled the scene after setting the Republican city councilman on fire; however, police officers were later able to arrest Hayes with the help of witness information.   

The Danville Police Department added, “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.”

In an update following the original press release, the Danville Police Department confirmed that the 29-year-old suspect had been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding. The police department also noted that Hayes remains in custody at Danville City Jail with no bond.

In a statement on X, formerly Twitter, Gov. Glenn Youngkin wrote, “Our prayers go out to Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler who was violently attacked at his workplace earlier today. We pray for a swift recovery for Lee and peace to be on the entire Danville community.”