Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler returned home and attended his first City Council meeting this week, nearly three months after being set on fire outside his office.
"The suspect, Shotsie Buck-Hayes, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after allegedly pouring gasoline on Vogler and then setting him on fire," WDBJ reports.
3:55 p.m. 7/30/25 UPDATE: The Danville Police Department has charged Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, with attempted first degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding following the attack by burning Wednesday, July 30, on Lee Vogler. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/g0N4rEMZLx
— Danville VA Police (@DanvilleVAPD) July 30, 2025
Vogler described his experience and recovery during his return to city council.
BREAKING: Danville, VA City Councilman Lee Vogler has returned to the city council chambers after police say a man set him on fire in July @myfox8 pic.twitter.com/Vn80NtYO1o
— Justin Odell Lundy (@_JustinLundyTV) October 21, 2025
WDBJ shared details:
Months later, Vogler walked through the doors of Danville City Hall for the first time since the incident.
His children being a huge factor in what got him through.
ADVERTISEMENT“My son is playing in the District Championship football game tomorrow, so I’m going to get to catch that,” he said. “I’m real excited. My daughter’s got a modeling show coming up. Those were two things that I really wanted to be here for. So that and, like I said, God and an amazing health care team got me here.”
During the meeting, Vogler gave an update on his recovery and shared a goal he hopes to achieve soon.
“This was kind of step one. I’m back home, but I still got a long road ahead of me,” Vogler said “I got a lot of work to do on my hands to get them back fully functional. My next goal, as I kept telling the doctors and the nurses, is I got to get a baseball glove on that left hand and a baseball on my right hand and get back on that field with those kids.”
With his wife and Danville residents in attendance, Vogler sent a message to those who supported him.
“They rallied around me as the comeback kid, and I really feel like that, and maybe even the miracle man,” he said. “The people of Danville always go above and beyond to show their love and support.”
Footage below:
Less than three months ago, Councilman Lee Vogler was set on fire. Last night he made it back to his first City Council meeting since the attack. Here are a few of his words. pic.twitter.com/zD00hieZLa
— ABC 13 News - WSET (@ABC13News) October 22, 2025
Vogler did not speak about his relationship to the suspect.
According to Danville Police Sgt. Gerrit Clay, Buck-Hayes told him, “he set the person on fire who had an affair with his wife.”
WSET noted:
According to his wife, Blair Vogler, he was moved out of the Intensive Care Unit on Oct. 7, months ahead of his projected release time. Now, just two weeks later, Vogler has returned home.
Vogler credited his wife and his family for their unwavering support during his recovery. "My wife, Blair, was there every step of the way," he said.
ADVERTISEMENTThe council chambers were filled with laughter and excitement as Vogler was welcomed back. Fellow council member Bryant Hood expressed admiration for Vogler's resilience, calling him "the originator of the Comeback City, aka the Comeback Kid." Barry Mayo, another council member, remarked on Vogler's appearance, saying, "You look good and we are with you."
Doctors are currently assisting Vogler in regaining the use of his hand, and he continues to experience some pain. Despite the challenges, Vogler expressed joy at seeing his son play ball and returning to work for the River City.
The man accused of setting Vogler on fire, Shotsie Buck-Hayes, is facing charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding.
Watch additional coverage below:
RELATED REPORT:
Motive Revealed For The Man Who (Allegedly) Lit Virginia City Councilman Lee Vogler On Fire
In case you missed it, Virginia City Councilman Lee Vogler was lit on fire in his office about two months ago.
Full report here:
Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, age 29, was charged with attempted first degree murder:
3:55 p.m. 7/30/25 UPDATE: The Danville Police Department has charged Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, with attempted first degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding following the attack by burning Wednesday, July 30, on Lee Vogler. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/g0N4rEMZLx
— Danville VA Police (@DanvilleVAPD) July 30, 2025
But....what made him (allegedly) do it?
Today we might finally know.
According to local WDBJ7, the motive was sex:
A motive was publicly revealed in court Tuesday for the man accused of setting a Danville City Councilman on fire.
ADVERTISEMENTShotsie Michael Buck-Hayes, arrested July 30, 2025, was in court for a preliminary hearing September 30.
He faces charges of attempted first degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding for allegedly setting Danville Councilman Lee Vogler on fire on July 30.
Buck-Hayes was arrested after he allegedly poured gasoline on Vogler at Vogler’s workplace, Showcase Magazine, then set him on fire outside the building.
Danville Police Sgt. Gerrit Clay took the stand to say Buck-Hayes told him, “he set the person on fire who had an affair with his wife.”
I get it man, that would make anyone furious but in this society you still can't go around lighting people on fire.
I MIGHT make one exception, and I'm certainly not condoning it or calling for any kind of violence, but any sort of sexual violation of a child might be the only thing that could rise to the level of "lighting another human being on fire". Again, I'm not recommending it or calling for anyone to do that or saying I would do that, BUT if I was on a jury I might be inclined to vote Not Guilty under that one circumstance only?
But not here, sorry folks.
You have to settle your differences some other way!
How about you?
