Danville Councilman Makes Triumphant Return Months After Attack
- BTW21
- 4 minutes ago
- 2 min read
DANVILLE, Va. (BTW21) — Just under three months after a brutal attack left him with life-threatening burns, Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler made a powerful return to the council chamber on Tuesday night, receiving a standing ovation from a crowd filled with emotion and support.
Vogler was the victim of a horrific assault on July 30, when authorities say Shotsie Buck-Hayes poured gasoline on him and set him on fire outside his office.
The attack left Vogler with severe burns covering most of his body, resulting in critical injuries and an extended stay at Duke University Hospital.
He spent nearly three weeks in a coma and faced a grueling recovery journey.
“God is everything,” Vogler said during his first public appearance since the incident. “To be here tonight is truly a miracle. I was in really bad shape.”
Buck-Hayes has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding.
In a court hearing in September, a Danville Police sergeant testified that Buck-Hayes claimed he attacked Vogler due to a suspected affair involving his wife.
A judge has since ordered a mental health evaluation to determine his competency to stand trial. His court date is scheduled for January 6.
Following the attack, Vogler was airlifted to the hospital and remained there for nearly three months. His wife, Blair Vogler, stayed by his side throughout the ordeal. “I wouldn’t be here without her, my kids, and the amazing medical team that took care of me,” Vogler said.
Doctors initially projected a six-month recovery timeline, but Vogler exceeded expectations. He was transferred out of intensive care on October 7 and released from the hospital just two weeks later.
Returning to Danville City Hall on October 21, Vogler was met with applause and cheers from the audience, including a spontaneous shout of “God is good!” He credited faith, family, and the unwavering support of the Danville community as key pillars of his recovery.
“The people of Danville always go above and beyond to show their love,” he said. “They’ve rallied behind me like I was the comeback kid — maybe even the miracle man.”
While Vogler still faces challenges, including limited mobility in his hands and ongoing pain, his focus is now shifting toward getting back to normal life — including returning to one of his favorite roles: coaching his son’s baseball team.
“My next goal is to get a glove on my left hand and a ball in my right,” he said. “I want to be back on that field with those kids.”
After the meeting, Vogler shared with reporters how determined he was to attend the council session. “When the doctors said I could go home on the 21st, they asked if I was going to the meeting. I told them, ‘I wouldn’t miss it for the world.’”
As the night drew to a close, Vogler expressed deep gratitude to those who never lost hope.
“I feel blessed just to be here,” he said. “To be back in the city I love, surrounded by people who stood by me — it truly is a miracle.”