The Virginia metropolis councilman who was torched in a focused assault suffered extreme burns throughout greater than half his physique by the hands of a maniac who allegedly got down to kill him, based on police and studies.
The chilling assault — which police mentioned was private — left Danville Metropolis Councilman Lee Vogler with burns masking as much as 60% of his physique, totally on his torso, Andrew Brooks, writer of Showcase Journal, the native outlet the place the pol works and was set ablaze, advised the New York Occasions Thursday.
The married father of two was anticipated to bear surgical procedure at a North Carolina hospital that he was airlifted to following the horrific assault Wednesday morning, Brooks mentioned.
Vogler’s spouse, Blair, mentioned that her “fighter” husband is therapeutic.
“As anybody who is aware of him would anticipate, he’s dealing with this problem the identical method he’s confronted each impediment in his life — with braveness, dedication, and an unbreakable spirit. Lee is a fighter,” she mentioned in a press release to Southside Information Immediately.
“Lee has devoted over a decade of his life to serving the folks of Danville. As his spouse, I’ve stood beside him by way of the highs and lows, and I can attest to the integrity with which he serves. Past the headlines and the general public feedback, there’s a man who deeply loves his household, metropolis, and its folks.”
Crazed assailant Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, allegedly admitted to police he doused the 38-year-old Republican lawmaker with 5 gallons of gasoline and set him on hearth as a result of “it was his intention to kill” him, based on a prison criticism obtained by ABC.
Hayes, a Danville resident, was charged with tried first-degree homicide and aggravated malicious wounding after he stormed into the workplaces of Showcase Journal, drenched Vogler with the gasoline, after which chased him exterior earlier than setting him on hearth, based on the Danville Police Division.
Brooks mentioned a number of bystanders recorded the terrifying assault, however a passing lady advised a burning Vogler to drop to the bottom and roll earlier than grabbing bottles of water from her automobile to assist extinguish the flames, the New York Occasions reported.
“She was a hero and sure saved his life whereas different folks stood by filming it,” mentioned the information writer, who launched an emotional video on Fb shortly after Hayes allegedly “pressured his method” into their workplaces and focused Vogler, the month-to-month journal’s director of gross sales.
Brooks and Showcase Journal didn’t instantly reply to The Publish’s requests for remark.
The alleged arsonist was captured shortly after fleeing the harrowing scene, whereas Danville’s youngest-ever elected councilman recognized his attacker and was rushed to a close-by burn unit in Lynchburg.
Police mentioned Vogler, who was elected in 2012 at simply 24, and Hayes know one another, including the callous assault stemmed from a private matter unrelated to the councilman’s place or political affiliation.
Court docket data present that Hayes’ spouse filed for divorce simply over two weeks earlier than finishing up the alleged assault, NBC reported. The pair wed in September 2023, based on their wedding ceremony web site.
Hayes’ spouse and household couldn’t instantly be reached.
Hayes was arraigned Thursday and is being held with out bond at Danville Metropolis Jail.
His lawyer, Edward Lavado, declined to touch upon the case.
Hayes is due again in courtroom on Sept. 30.
