In a shocking incident, a Virginia City Councilman suffered severe burns covering more than half of his body after being targeted by an assailant. The attack on Danville Councilman Lee Vogler was described by police as personal and vicious.
According to Andrew Brooks, the publisher of a local magazine, Vogler’s injuries include burns with up to 60% of his torso affected. He mentioned that both men—Vogler and the attacker—are fathers, and both are expected to undergo surgeries at a North Carolina hospital after the harrowing incident that occurred on Wednesday morning.
Vogler’s wife, Blair, expressed her support, stating that her husband is a “fighter” and is managing to heal. She remarked, “As anyone who knows him would expect, he faces this challenge just as he faces every obstacle in his life—with courage and determination.”
The alleged attacker, 29-year-old Shottsy Michael Buckhayes, reportedly set Vogler on fire with the intent to kill him. Law enforcement has charged him with attempted murder and malicious injuries due to the details surrounding the incident. Buckhayes allegedly drenched Vogler in fuel before igniting the flames outside the magazine’s office, as per the Danville Police Department.
Witnesses captured parts of the assault on video, while one woman urged Vogler to roll on the ground to extinguish the flames, a brave act that could have saved his life. Brooks criticized other bystanders for merely recording the attack instead of intervening.
After fleeing the scene, Buckhayes was quickly apprehended, and Vogler, who made history by being elected at 24 years old in 2012, was hospitalized in a burn unit near Lynchburg.
The attack appears to be rooted in personal issues between the two men, rather than political motivations. Court records indicate that Buckhayes’ wife filed for divorce just weeks before the incident, highlighting potential underlying tensions.
Following his arrest, Buckhayes is currently held at Danville City Jail, with his next court appearance scheduled for September 30. His lawyer has withheld comments regarding the case.
