A 38-year-old man, Cody Balmer, has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies after allegedly setting fire to the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro while the governor, his wife, four children, two dogs, and another family were inside celebrating the Jewish holiday of Passover. The fire occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in Harrisburg and prompted a swift response from police and firefighters, who evacuated the residence before anyone was harmed.
Governor Shapiro described waking up around 2 a.m. to police banging on the door. “Thank God no one was injured,” he later posted on X, expressing gratitude to first responders for acting quickly to protect his family. The fire damaged part of the residence but was extinguished without casualties.
Authorities say Balmer scaled a fence surrounding the governor’s residence, broke a window with a hammer, and threw Molotov cocktails into the home. He reportedly confessed to the act and instructed his ex-girlfriend to inform the police of his involvement before turning himself in. Prosecutors have charged Balmer with attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, reckless endangerment, and other offenses.
Balmer’s mugshot, released by the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office on Monday, shows a visibly somber and downcast expression. According to Dauphin County Prison Warden Gregory Briggs, Balmer was unable to attend his arraignment due to a “medical event” unrelated to his arrest and is currently being evaluated at a Pennsylvania hospital. His current medical condition has not been disclosed.
Briggs added that discussions are ongoing with state correctional authorities about relocating Balmer to a state prison due to concerns over his violent behavior and the need for heightened security.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, but Governor Shapiro stated officials believe the act was targeted. A spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police confirmed that Balmer used homemade incendiary devices in the attack and managed to evade state troopers before carrying out the alleged arson.
Governor Shapiro, a rising figure in the Democratic Party and widely considered a potential candidate for the 2028 presidential election, emphasized his family’s safety and the bravery of emergency responders. “Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities,” he said on social media. “Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.”
