In a horrifying act of violence that would dominate headlines if the roles were reversed, a Republican city councilman in Virginia was viciously attacked and set on fire in what authorities are describing as a personal dispute—though many conservatives are rightly asking: where’s the national outrage?
Lee Vogler, a 38-year-old Danville City Councilman and respected local conservative, was doused in gasoline and set ablaze in broad daylight on Tuesday in his office at Showcase Magazine, where he also serves as Director of Sales. The perpetrator—identified as Shotsie Michael Buck Hayes—stormed into the office just after 11 a.m. and launched the cowardly attack, reportedly chasing Vogler and setting him on fire before fleeing the scene.
Despite the graphic nature of the assault and the fact that it targeted a public official, mainstream media outlets have responded with near-silence—a stark contrast to the wall-to-wall coverage we’ve seen for far less when left-leaning figures are involved.
Danville Police confirmed that Vogler and the attacker knew each other and are treating the case as a “personal matter,” not politically motivated. But the context doesn’t make the attack any less disturbing. If a Republican had assaulted a Democrat this way—especially one in public office—the headlines would be endless, with calls for national reflection on “right-wing extremism.” Instead, we get silence and carefully worded press statements.
The City of Danville, trying to calm a rattled community, released the following:
“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.”
That might be true. But in today’s climate of rising violence, inflammatory rhetoric, and increasingly hostile behavior toward conservatives, it’s fair to ask what role anti-Republican sentiment has played in this cultural decay. And why isn’t the left calling for civility now?
Mayor Alonzo Jones gave a heartfelt statement on Tuesday afternoon:
“Today, our community was shaken by an unthinkable act of violence against Councilman Lee Vogler—our colleague, our friend, and someone we care about deeply. Lee is a member of our City Council family. And today, that family is hurting.”
Danville’s first responders quickly arrived at the scene. Vogler was airlifted to a regional hospital for treatment, and as of now, his condition is being closely monitored. The full extent of his injuries is still unknown, but the community is praying for a full recovery.
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin also issued a strong statement of support:
“Our prayers go out to Danville City Councilman Lee Vogler who was violently attacked at his workplace earlier today. We pray for a swift recovery for Lee and peace to be on the entire Danville community.”
Showcase Magazine, where Vogler works, said it is cooperating fully with authorities and called the incident “an act of senseless violence.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Lee and his family as he receives medical care.”
As conservatives, we must not allow incidents like this to pass unnoticed or be quietly swept under the rug because the victim happens to wear the wrong political jersey. Political violence—regardless of motive—should never be minimized, especially when it targets elected officials serving their communities.
Lee Vogler isn’t just a public servant—he’s a husband, a friend, and a patriot. He deserves our full support, our prayers, and yes, our outrage.
Let’s hope the justice system acts swiftly. And let’s also hope the media someday learns to care when the victim wears red.
