Lee Vogler, the Danville City Council member who was attacked and set on fire Wednesday, was expected to undergo “the first of what will be many surgeries on his road to recovery” on Friday, according to a statement from his wife, Blair Vogler.
The statement was published on Facebook by Showcase Magazine, where Vogler, 38, works as marketing director. The magazine’s office on Main Street is where the attack occurred.
In the statement, Blair Vogler expressed gratitude for the burn unit team at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, where Vogler was airlifted after the attack.
“Their expertise, professionalism, and compassionate care have given us both comfort and confidence during this difficult time,” she wrote. “We have full trust in the burn surgeons and the entire unit team, and we’re thankful for the support we’ve received from friends, family, and the community. We would appreciate your continued prayers for Lee, our family and the medical team.”
Police said a man entered the Showcase Magazine office on Wednesday, doused Vogler in gasoline and set him on fire. According to police reports, the two men knew each other, and the attack stemmed from a personal matter and not from Vogler’s work with the city.
Shotsie Michael Buck-Hayes, 29, has been charged with attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding. He told police that he intended to kill Vogler, according to court documents.
Showcase Magazine’s most recent Facebook post Friday afternoon announced a GoFundMe page to support Vogler’s recovery.
“Lee sustained second- and third-degree burns over more than half his body and is currently in stable but critical condition at the UNC Chapel Hill Burn Clinic,” the page says. “His wife, Blair, and their children are by his side as he begins what will be a long, painful, and uncertain recovery. He faces multiple surgeries, an extended hospital stay, and months — if not years — of rehabilitation.”
The page also describes Vogler’s public service to the Danville community, saying that he never missed a council meeting and worked tirelessly toward the city’s revitalization.
“He is a father who coaches his children’s sports teams, a husband who adores his family, and a friend who has always been there when others needed him,” the post says. “Now, Lee and his family need us.”
The nature of the attack may preclude worker’s compensation from covering medical fees, according to the page.
“Lee will be unable to work for the foreseeable future, and Blair will lose wages while caring for him. Their children are facing emotional trauma and uncertainty as their father fights to heal.”
The fundraiser will support the Vogler family with both short-term, urgent expenses like medical costs and travel and lodging, as well as longer-term costs like lost household income and rehabilitation needs.
At the time of publication this afternoon, about $4,500 of a $100,000 goal had been raised.
Danville residents and business owners have been among the donors. The fundraiser was organized by Andrew Brooks, the publisher and owner of Showcase Magazine. Brooks issued a video statement on the publication’s Facebook page immediately after the attack Wednesday.
In the video, Brooks described the attack, saying “Lee attempted to flee, ran to the front of the building, the individual followed him and set him on fire.”
On Thursday, Blair Vogler issued a statement that was the first message from the family since the attack.
“Lee is a fighter,” she wrote. “As anyone who knows him would expect, he is facing this challenge the same way he’s faced every obstacle in his life — with courage, determination, and an unbreakable spirit.”
