A man has been arrested in connection with the arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion in Harrisburg, and investigators have uncovered a disturbing motive behind the crime.
Cody Balmer, 38, from Harrisburg, was taken into custody after setting fire to the governor’s residence late Saturday night, just hours after Shapiro and his family celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover. The fire forced Shapiro, his wife, four children, and other family members to flee the home in the middle of the night.
Pennsylvania State Police say Balmer jumped over a nearly 7-foot iron fence surrounding the property, broke into the home, and threw beer bottles filled with gasoline into the dining room, setting the fire. The same room where Shapiro had posted a photo of his family’s Seder dinner just hours earlier was left charred and in ruins, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
“People’s lives were at risk here,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens of the state police. “This was a well-planned attack, and it could have been much worse.”
Court documents have revealed a chilling motive. Balmer, when questioned by police, told them that if Governor Shapiro had been at home during the attack, he would have “beat him with a hammer”. Investigators also learned that Balmer used his ex-girlfriend to help him negotiate his surrender to authorities after the attack, reports local ABC affiliate WHTM.
Shapiro and his family were evacuated safely, and no one was injured in the incident. However, the fire caused significant damage to the house. Photos of the aftermath show charred furniture, blackened walls, and a smoke-covered table sign that once read, “Help yourself to some kid-friendly Passover Crafts!”
Shapiro, visibly frustrated, addressed the public after the attack. “This kind of violence is not okay,” he said. “I don’t care if it’s coming from one side or the other, directed at one party or one person, it is not okay. It has to stop.”
The governor also spoke with FBI Director Kash Patel just hours after the attack, who promised federal resources to help with the investigation. Shapiro vowed to rebuild the damaged parts of the residence, saying, “We’ll get rid of that smell of fire and smoke, and we’ll be back very soon.”
While Balmer is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault, the investigation into the exact reasons behind the attack is ongoing. State police continue to comb through the details of what was a highly coordinated and deliberate assault on the governor’s home.
This attack marks another unsettling chapter in a rise of politically motivated violence, with Shapiro emphasizing that it’s time to put an end to it. “We have to be better than this,” he said. “Violence has no place in our society, no matter who it’s aimed at.”
As the investigation moves forward, Shapiro remains committed to his family’s safety and to holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
