Who is Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes? 5 facts on the suspect who set Lee Vogler on fire

Lee Vogler, a councilman from Danville city, Virginia, was set on fire by attacker, 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, on Wednesday.

Updated on: Jul 31, 2025, 02:37:07 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Lee Vogler, a councilman from Virginia was set on fire by an attacker in Danville city, Virginia on Wednesday. The attacker has been identified as 29-year-old Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes.

Danville's Vice Mayor, James Buckner, confirmed that it was a targeted attack that took place at the office of a local publication, Showcase Magazine, on the 700 block of Main Street in Danville, ABC13 reported. Lee was flown to the University of North Carolina's burn unit in Chapel Hill and is now stable.

The Danville Police Department said that Vogler was treated at the scene, and he was subsequently flown to Chapel Hill for further treatment. They said the suspect knew the councilman personally and it was targeted attack.

Who is Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes? - 5 facts

1. Vogler and Hayes appeared to know each other

The suspect, Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes, and councilman Lee Vogler knew each other from before, the Danville Police Deaprtment confirmed.

"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," DPD said.

2. Photo of the suspect surfaces

Social media sleuths dug out photos of the suspect, Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes and it went viral. However, as of now, a mugshot has not been released by the Danville Police.

3. Left the scene and taken into custody at traffic stop

Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes left the scene of the shooting on Main Street in Danville, Virginia and was later captured by the Danville PD officers from a nearby traffic stop, the DPD said.

Also read: Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes: Lee Vogler's suspect's alleged photo surfaces amid fire incident

4. Forced his way inside, chased Vogler, and attacked

Hayes forced his way inside the Showcase Magazine's Main Street office where Vogler was in, the police revealed. As Vogler tried to flee the scene, Hayes followed him, doused him in gasoline and set him on fire.

5. Charges incoming

The Danville Police Department said that the charges against Hayes will be filed soon. This story will be updated when they are filed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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