A British man has been accused of carrying out a horrifying attack on a US politician after allegedly discovering he was having an affair with his wife.
Shotsie Michael Buck-Hayes, 29, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder after allegedly pouring gasoline on Lee Vogler, 38, inside his Danville, Virginia, office before setting him on fire.
At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday (September 30), police testified that Buck-Hayes admitted buying fuel from a gas station with the intent to kill Vogler, The Sun reports.
Victim suffered burns to 60% of his body
Vogler, who serves on Danville City Council, suffered second- and third-degree burns across 60 percent of his body.
He also sustained scorched lungs from smoke inhalation and went into septic shock while in hospital, his wife Blair told the court, per 1011 Now.
Colleague Stephen Seiple, who was inside the office at the time, recalled the moment Vogler screamed for help.
“The next thing I remember was Lee screaming, ‘Call 911, he threw gas on me,’” Seiple said.
He testified that Buck-Hayes then used a lighter to set Vogler’s shirt ablaze as he tried to escape.
Attacker fled the scene
Emergency services were called at around 11:30am on July 30. Vogler was rushed to a burn center in Lynchburg, while Buck-Hayes fled on foot before being arrested just a few blocks away.
Police later confirmed the incident was a “personal matter” and not related to Vogler’s political work.
Andrew Brooks, publisher of Showcase Magazine, said he witnessed part of the ordeal.
In a Facebook video, he condemned the violence, saying: “This type of senseless act of violence has to stop.
"You do not have the right as a human being to lash out and attempt to harm someone, much less this way.”
Youngest ever on council
Vogler made history in 2012 when he became the youngest person ever elected to the Danville City Council at just 24 years old.
He won re-election last November while running as an Independent, telling voters (via The Sun): “I’m not running against anyone. I’m running for the people of Danville and the future of our city.”
Vogler remains hospitalized, with his wife updating the court on his condition.
Buck-Hayes is currently being held on charges of attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding. His next court date is scheduled for October 27.