Councillor doused in petrol and set alight in front of horrified colleagues
An American councillor has been rushed to hospital after being doused in petrol and set alight at a magazine where he worked.
Independent Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler was brutally attacked by a man who set him on fire this afternoon.
The vice mayor of Danville, Virginia, James Buckner, confirmed to local media that Mr Vogler had been attacked and that he had been set alight, The Mirror reports.
It is understood Mr Vogler was rushed by air ambulance to the UNC hospital's burn unit in Chapel Hill. Mr Buckner added:
"Please keep our colleague and our brother in your prayers."
Mr Volger had been at the premises of Showcase Magazine, where he works, at the time of the attack. Magazine owner and publisher Andrew Brooks shared a video on Facebook detailing the attack.
Mr Brooks said the suspect had been carrying a five-gallon container of petrol and that he poured it over Mr Vogler. He continued: "Lee attempted to flee, ran to the front of the building...The individual followed him and set him on fire."
Danville Police department said officers were dispatched at about 11:30am local time following reports of a man being set on fire.
Their statement continued: "The Danville Fire Department and the Danville Life Saving Crew also responded to the scene to render aid. The male victim was airlifted to a regional medical facility for treatment. The full extent of his injuries are not known at the time of this release.
"Based on witness information provided to officers at the scene, the suspect entered into the victim's place of employment, confronted him and doused him with a flammable liquid. The victim and suspect exited the building, where the suspect then set the victim on fire.
"The suspect fled the scene, however witness information provided a description of the suspect and his vehicle. Officers located and stopped the vehicle several blocks from the incident and the driver was taken into custody without incident.
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"The driver, Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, 29, of Danville, was identified as the suspect in the attack and is currently in police custody.
"The Danville Police Department does not typically identify living victims in media releases, however due to his public position as an elected official, the victim of this attack was identified as Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler, 38, of Danville.
"Based on the investigation at the time of this release, the victim and the suspect are known to each other and the attack stems from a personal matter not related to the victim's position on Danville City Council or any other political affiliation.
"Due to the ongoing investigation, the Danville Police Department will not provide any further details about the incident itself, however charge information will be forthcoming."
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