Virginia City Councilman Doused In Gasoline And Lit On Fire In Attack At His Office

A man attacked and poured gasoline connected a Virginia metropolis councilman earlier mounting him connected occurrence connected Wednesday, according to police.

Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler was attacked astatine nan agency of section media outlet Showcase Magazine, wherever he works, successful Danville, a mini metropolis astir 45 miles northwest of Greensboro, North Carolina, constabulary said successful a statement.

A man entered nan agency Wednesday greeting and confronted Vogler earlier dousing him successful flammable liquid, according to authorities. Vogler and nan fishy past exited nan building, wherever nan fishy lit Vogler connected fire.

Police said Vogler was airlifted to a infirmary and that his information remains unknown.

Police identified nan fishy arsenic Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes of Danville. The 29-year-old fled nan scene, but was picked up by rule enforcement respective blocks from wherever nan incident occurred, constabulary added.

Hayes is successful constabulary custody and could not beryllium reached for comment.

Police said that nan onslaught "stems from a individual matter not related to nan victim’s position connected Danville City Council aliases immoderate different governmental affiliation."

However, attacks connected section and nationalist politicians have go much common successful nan United States successful caller years.

In 2020, 14 men were arrested successful relationship pinch a home panic crippled to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and overthrow nan state's government. Last year, President Donald Trump survived 2 assassination attempts while campaigning for president. In April, Gov. Josh Shapiro’s location was firebombed by a man who disagreed pinch nan governor's views connected nan warfare successful Gaza.

And past month, erstwhile Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her hubby were assassinated successful what authorities described arsenic a politically motivated attack.

Andrew Brooks, nan patient and proprietor of Showcase Magazine, addressed nan Virginia incident successful a video nan mag posted connected Facebook. He said that astatine nan clip nan video was posted, nan councilman was awake and en way to a pain halfway successful Lynchburg.

"This type of senseless enactment of unit has to stop. You do not person nan correct arsenic a quality being to get upset pinch personification capable to lash retired and effort to harm them successful immoderate way, overmuch little this way."

In a little telephone call, Danville Vice Mayor James Buckner said, "Please support our chap assembly personnel successful your thoughts and prayers."