A man from Pennsylvania surrendered to authorities, admitting to starting the fires, as reported by the police. Earlier that evening, Governor Josh Shapiro and his family had observed Passover.
Pennsylvania authorities charged a Harrisburg-area man with attempted murder, terrorism and arson Monday after police said he confessed to breaking into and igniting fires at the governor's residence early Sunday morning.
Authorities reported that a suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Cody Balmer, was caught on surveillance footage climbing a fence to access the property around 2 a.m. on Sunday, while Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were inside. Fortunately, no one was harmed during the incident. Officials revealed that the intruder used a hammer to break a window on the south side of the house, threw a Molotov cocktail inside, then smashed another window, crawled in, and ignited two additional fires before fleeing through a fire exit.
Cody Balmer, 38, of Pennsylvania, has been charged with attempted murder, terrorism, and arson by the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office after allegedly setting a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s residence.
According to the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, Balmer later surrendered to the police and admitted to the attack, which resulted in significant damage. He also told state troopers that he would have assaulted the governor with the hammer had they crossed paths. Footage from the event shows the intruder wearing a “Snap-On” jacket with unique shoulder patches, which investigators later discovered at Balmer's residence, along with a gasoline container, as reported by the police. During the attack, Shapiro, a Democrat, and his wife and children were located on the opposite side of the building.
“Lori and I are overwhelmed by the prayers and the messages of support that we’ve received,” Shapiro said at a news conference Sunday.
The incident took place on the Jewish holiday of Passover, which Shapiro and his family observed on Saturday night.
“No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly or proudly,” Shapiro said. He also noted that “we don’t know the person’s specific motives yet.”
Shapiro emphasized that violence is not acceptable.
“And I don’t give a damn if it's coming from one particular side or the other. Directed at one political party or another. Or one particular person or another. It is not OK,” he said.
Balmer is currently hospitalized due to a separate medical issue.
🔄 Update: Fire Chief Says Closed Doors Likely Saved Lives
Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline emphasized that closed interior doors played a pivotal role in containing the fire and preventing further devastation.
Speaking to reporters, Enterline said the blaze could have spread rapidly through the residence had certain doors not been shut. “It would have been a totally different fire and a totally different outcome, most likely, had that door not been closed,” he said. The closed doors, particularly near the ballroom and stairwell areas, likely slowed the fire's progression and gave first responders crucial extra minutes to protect Governor Shapiro and his family, who were inside the home at the time of the attack.
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