From the New York Post: Pennsylvania State Police have arrested a Harrisburg man for the arson attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family that sent them fleeing from the governor’s residence on the first night of Passover.
Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, is expected to face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person, authorities said.
Shapiro, who is Jewish, became visible emotional as he spoke about the 2 a.m. attack on his home as he and his family slept inside.
According to police, Balmer sneaked into the gated compound by jumping a fence. He was able to evade officers on site, break into the residence, set fire to the residence, and then escape by jumping back over the fence.
Shapiro released the following statement on X:
Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished.
Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.
Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were…
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2025
Reportedly, Balmer is a “nonpartisan/unaffiliated” registered voter. His Facebook page including a couple negative posts about Joe Biden, and a couple posts indicating his support for Kanye West.
BREAKING: Arsonist attacking Governor Josh Shapiro identified as Cody Balmer
Who is Cody?
– nonpartisan/unaffiliated voter
– modeled as a democrat
– voted in 2008, 2018, 2020, 2022, 2024He lives 9 minutes from the Gov’s mansion.
Let me be clear: VIOLENCE IS NOT THE ANSWER. pic.twitter.com/XEFevtKSoN
— Cliff Maloney (@Maloney) April 13, 2025
This is Cody Balmer, the suspect who tried to set fire to Josh Shapiro’s house.
He’s 1,000%, not MAGA, so you can expect this story to drop out of the headlines by this time tomorrow pic.twitter.com/CElqjA1rWD— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) April 13, 2025
A screenshot is circulating on social media of a post found on Balmer’s Facebook page from 2022, which features a molotov cocktail.
Seen on the Facebook page of Cody Balmer: pic.twitter.com/GoIMXkZpZq
— Faucetoor.com (@CryptoNinjaco) April 13, 2025
DMLNewsApp founder Dennis Michael Lynch said in a statement, “I can’t tolerate the left, but lighting a person’s home on fire and putting his family in grave danger is unacceptable. Arson is what the left does, and who knows — maybe it is a leftist who is anti-Israel that lit the match. Either way it is wrong to do and the culprit should get life in prison.”
Breaking. Democrat Gov. Shapiro and His Family Evacuated After Arson at Pennsylvania Residence: The governor said the State Police banged on the door early on Sunday to wake him and his family after an arsonist set fire to the governor’s official residence in Harrisburg.
I…
— Dennis Michael Lynch (@TrustDML) April 13, 2025
Footage of the scene shows broken windows and charred remains from the fire.
Here is some of the damage from the Governor’s mansion pic.twitter.com/eLC8G7fJBj
— SeanKitchen.bsky.social (@pennslinger) April 13, 2025
First look at the damage inside the Pennsylvania Governor’s mansion pic.twitter.com/Ijw7gmliMJ
— SeanKitchen.bsky.social (@pennslinger) April 13, 2025
Shapiro says FBI Director Kash Patel pledged agency’s support in investigating.
— Tom Lehman (@TomLehmanWGAL) April 13, 2025
PSP Col. Paris says this fire is being investigated as an attempted homicide case with Cody Balmer, 38, Harrisburg, in custody. pic.twitter.com/dp0DhqXodh
— Tom Lehman (@TomLehmanWGAL) April 13, 2025
Below is an image of the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, prior to the fire:
Prayers for @GovernorShapiro and his family. Grateful everyone is ok, and I hope they catch the criminals who did this.
Fire at Pa. Governor’s Residence was arson: state police https://t.co/ARAXF0ztD2
— Janice Dean (@JaniceDean) April 13, 2025
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