A Virginia metropolis council member was hospitalized after a person set him on hearth after pouring a flammable liquid on him in his workplace on Wednesday, mentioned police.
Investigators consider the assault stemmed from a “private matter” and was unrelated to his politics or work as councilman, authorities mentioned in a Fb publish.
The Danville Police Division recognized the sufferer as council member Lee Vogler, 38, who additionally works at an area journal.
Police say the suspect entered the native journal workplace as he was working, confronted him, and doused him in flammable liquid. Each males then left the constructing, and the 29-year-old suspect set Vogler on hearth, police mentioned.
“The male sufferer was airlifted to a regional medical facility for remedy. The total extent of his accidents usually are not identified on the time of this launch,” the Danville Police Division mentioned within the publish.
After the suspect fled, witnesses offered an outline of him and his automobile, in response to police. The automobile was stopped a number of blocks away from the incident, and the driving force was arrested and brought into custody.
Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, was recognized because the suspect, officers mentioned.
“Primarily based on the investigation on the time of this launch, the sufferer and the suspect are identified to one another and the assault stems from a private matter not associated to the sufferer’s place on Danville Metropolis Council or another political affiliation,” the police assertion mentioned, with out elaborating.
Showcase Journal, the place Vogler works, offered an replace on the assault and mentioned Vogler “sustained severe burn accidents and was transported to the Lynchburg burn heart for remedy.”
“We’re deeply shocked and saddened by this act of violence. Our ideas and prayers are with Lee and his household as he receives medical care. The Showcase Journal workforce is totally cooperating with regulation enforcement as they proceed their investigation,” the journal mentioned in a press release.
No different particulars had been offered concerning the incident by both the police division or the journal.
Showcase Journal proprietor and writer Andrew Brooks launched a video on social media and mentioned that Volger was working on the workplace when a person forcibly entered the constructing. He was carrying a five-gallon gasoline container and poured it on Volger, Brooks mentioned.
“Lee tried to flee, ran to the entrance of the constructing,” Brooks mentioned. “The person adopted him and set him on hearth.”
Afterward Wednesday, Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones confirmed to native ABC affiliate station WSET-13 that Volger was set on hearth and known as for prayers.
“Right now, our group was shaken by an unthinkable act of violence in opposition to Councilman Lee Vogler—our colleague, our pal, and somebody we care about deeply. Lee is a member of our Metropolis Council household. And at the moment, that household is hurting,” he mentioned in a assertion.
His assertion added: “Our Council is shut. We’ve labored by challenges collectively—and now, we face this heartbreak collectively. Please proceed to wish for Lee and his household. We’re standing with him—and with one another.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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