Virginia city councilman set on fire by man who dumped bucket of petrol on him

A councilman in the US has been set on fire by a man who stormed into his workplace carrying a bucket of fuel, in the latest sickening attack against an elected official.

A city councilman in the US state of Virginia was savagely set on fire by a man who stormed into his workplace carrying gallons of fuel and ignited the politician on Wednesday morning in the latest sickening attack against an 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 (19-litre) bucket of gasoline on the politician around 11.30am, according to the Danville Police Department and the outlet’s publisher, Andrew Brooks.

Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler. Picture: Facebook

Mr Vogler, 38, managed to escape the office and ran to the front of the building, but Hayes followed him and torched him.

“This type of senseless act of violence has to stop,” Mr Brooks said in an emotional video published on Facebook on 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 politician, who identified his suspected attacker at the harrowing scene, before he was airlifted to a hospital in North Carolina.

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

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.

Alleged attacker Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes. Picture: Danville VA Police Department

Authorities said Mr 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 alleged arsonist has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding, police said.

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

The investigation is ongoing.

The offices of Showcase Magazine, where Mr Vogler was set on fire. Picture: Allen G. Breed/AP

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

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

Mr 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.

Mr Vogler was elected to council in May 2012. Picture: Arnold Hendrix/City of Danville via AP

He also serves on the Virginia Small Business Commission, a position Mr Youngkin appointed him to in July 2022, according to Mr Vogler’s LinkedIn.

Wednesday’s attack is the latest in a disturbing wave of violence targeting elected officials, including President Donald Trump, who narrowly escaped death when a would-be assassin fired at him during a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. 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 Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who both survived.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home was firebombed overnight during Passover in April by an attacker allegedly motivated by antisemitism while the Jewish politician and his family slept.

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

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Virginia city councilman set on fire by man who dumped bucket of petrol on him