A councillor has been rushed to hospital after a man poured petrol on him and set him alight in his workplace on Wednesday.
Lee Vogler, a Danville City Council member in Virginia, was working in a magazine office when the incident took place at 11am local time.
Vogler, 39, was inside the Showcase Magazine office when "Shotsie" Michael Buck Hayes, 29, burst into the building carrying a five-gallon container of petrol, according to the Danville Police Department and Showcase owner Andrew Brooks.
Police said Hayes then poured the petrol on Vogler, who tried to flee to the front of the building, and then set him on fire.
According to officials, Hayes has been charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding, and is being held in Danville City Jail without bond.
Vogler is said to have identified Hayes during the attack, which helped authorities arrest him after he fled the scene.
A statement from local police said: "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."
Vogler was airlifted to a regional facility for treatment, and is now in a specialist burns unit.
CITY OF DANVILLE
|Lee Vogler was working in a magazine office when the incident took place at 11am local time
Although his condition is not known, it is understood that he is awake.
A statement from Showcase Magazine reads: "We are deeply shocked and saddened by this act of violence.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with Lee and his family as he receives medical care.
"The Showcase Magazine team is fully cooperating with law enforcement as they continue their investigation."
DANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT
|Hayes has been charged with attempted first degree murder and aggravate malicious wounding
Vogler, who graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2010, is the sales director for Showcase Magazine as well as his council role.
He became the youngest person to hold a position on Danville City Council after he was elected in May 2012 at the age of 24.
Virginia Senator Tammy Mulchi said after the attack: "I want to wholeheartedly condemn this act of violence and express my full support for the efforts to bring the assailant to justice.
"One thing that I know he [Vogler] loves more than representing the people of Danville is the love of his family."
Vogler was inside the Showcase Magazine Office when the incident took place
She added: "Violence like this has no place in our community and should not be tolerated!"
Danville Mayor Alonzo Jones also expressed the community's shock at the attack.
He said: "We are grateful to our first responders and law enforcement for their swift action.
"Our council is close. We've worked through challenges together - and now, we face this heartbreak together."
He urged people to pray for Vogler and his family, as did Virginia Governor Glenn Younkin.