As reported earlier, Danville, Virginia, City Councilman Lee Vogler was doused in gasoline and set on fire in his office on Tuesday.
According to reports, the attacker, identified as Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, threw five gallons of gasoline on Vogler before setting him on fire.
3:55 p.m. 7/30/25 UPDATE: The Danville Police Department has charged Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, with attempted first degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding following the attack by burning Wednesday, July 30, on Lee Vogler. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/g0N4rEMZLx
— Danville VA Police (@DanvilleVAPD) July 30, 2025
Danville police said the attack appears to be personal and not related to Vogler’s position as a city councilman.
The Daily Mail reported that Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes’ wife filed for divorce just two weeks ago.
The Daily Mail reported:
A Virginia lawmaker was doused in gasoline and set on fire in a ‘personal’ attack at his office allegedly carried out by a man whose wife recently filed for divorce from him.
Danville City Councilman J. Lee Vogler, 38, was at the Showcase Magazine headquarters when the suspect stormed in at around 11.30am.
He dumped the contents of a ‘five gallon container’ on top of Vogler before setting him alight, according to the publication’s owner Andrew Brooks.
Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, was identified as the suspect by police.
He and Vogler know each other and the attack stemmed from a ‘personal matter’, not from Vogler’s role as a public official, police said.
Hayes’ wife Mary-Alice Buck-Hayes filed for divorce from him just two weeks ago, who he appeared to have married in 2023.
Showcase Magazine’s Andrew Brooks said the attacker forced his way in the magazine’s office as Vogler was visiting and poured a five-gallon container of gas on him.
“Lee attempted to flee, ran to the front of the building,” Showcase Magazine owner Andrew Brooks said in a Facebook video. “The individual followed him and set him on fire.”
Vogler was flown to the UNC burn unit in Chapel Hill, according to WSET.
Vogler is reportedly awake and talking.
The Danville Police Department released a statement:
The Danville Police Department is investigating after a male was set on fire Wednesday, July 30.
Around 11:30 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of Main Street for a report of a male being set on fire.
The Danville Fire Department and the Danville Life Saving Crew also responded to the scene to render aid. The male victim was airlifted to a regional medical facility for treatment. The full extent of his injuries are not known at the time of this release.
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 victim and suspect exited the building, where the suspect then set the victim on fire.
The suspect fled the scene, however witness information provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Officers located and stopped the vehicle several blocks from the incident and the driver was taken into custody without incident.
The driver, Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, was identified as the suspect in the attack and is currently in police custody.
The Danville Police Department does not typically identify living victims in media releases, however due to his public position as an elected official, the victim of this attack was identified as Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler, 38, of Danville.
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.
Due to the ongoing investigation, the Danville Police Department will not provide any further details about the incident itself, however charge information will be forthcoming.
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