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Officials say the motive appears personal and unrelated to Lee
Vogler’s work as a public official. After Wednesday's attack,
the 38-year-old father of two was flown by medical helicopter to
a burn unit in North Carolina. The hospital hasn't provided an
update on his condition.
According to police, witnesses and Vogler himself, Shotsie
Michael Buck-Hayes, 29, poured gasoline on the councilman after
barging into his workplace at a local magazine. Buck-Hayes
chased Vogler outside and ignited the gas, later telling police
he intended for the flames to kill him, according to the
documents.
Buck-Hayes has since been charged with attempted first-degree
murder and aggravated malicious wounding. Edward Lavado, an
attorney representing him, declined to comment to The Associated
Press on Thursday.
At the scene, Vogler was able to tell multiple witnesses that
Buck-Hayes had burned him, according to the charging documents.
The complaint doesn't give details on how Buck-Hayes was taken
into custody. The records were first reported by the Danville
Register and Bee.
Vogler has served on the Danville City Council for more than a
decade and is known as a fixture of the small city near the
Virginia-North Carolina state line, about 140 miles (230
kilometers) north of Charlotte. The police documents list a
Danville address for Buck-Hayes as well.
His wife, Blair Vogler, issued a statement Thursday thanking
first responders for helping him and speaking about his public
service.
“As anyone who knows him would expect, he is facing this
challenge the same way he’s faced every obstacle in his
life—with courage, determination, and an unbreakable spirit,”
the statement said. “Lee is a fighter."
Andrew Scott Brooks, editor and publisher of Showcase Magazine,
says the attacker forced his way into the office despite the
door being locked and went straight for Vogler.
“The next thing, Lee is running through the office covered in
gasoline, yelling for our officemate to call 911,” Brooks said
Wednesday.
Buck-Hayes was being held without bail in the Danville City
Jail, records show.
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