BREAKING NEWS: The Pennsylvania Governor’s mansion was the target of a calculated arson attack that forced Democrat Josh Shapiro and his family to flee in the middle of the night.
The incident has raised troubling questions about security effectiveness at the governor’s residence.
38-year-old Cody Balmer now faces multiple serious charges, including attempted homicide, after using Molotov cocktails in what authorities describe as a “targeted attack.”
The arson occurred overnight after the Shapiro family had celebrated the first night of Passover.
Authorities woke the governor up by banging on the door, alerting him to the danger. The family was safely evacuated as flames engulfed a part of the historic residence in Harrisburg.
According to police reports, Balmer walked an hour to reach the governor’s residence, methodically scaled a fence, broke windows with a hammer, and deployed homemade firebombs to start the blaze.
Surveillance footage captured the entire security breach, exposing potential vulnerabilities in one of Pennsylvania’s most important government buildings.
Court documents reveal Balmer harbored intense hatred toward Governor Shapiro, which apparently motivated the attack.
When captured, Balmer admitted responsibility and expressed his intent to harm the governor.
Cody Balmer mug shot just released — police say he admitted to torching Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence while the family slept inside. https://t.co/h7ICHqrzVX pic.twitter.com/YbaFSdQFDY
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) April 14, 2025
Investigators discovered Balmer had used gasoline from a lawnmower to manufacture his incendiary devices, fully aware of the potential harm they could cause.
A search of his residence turned up a distinctive Snap-On jacket seen in surveillance footage and a gasoline container, providing additional evidence for prosecutors.
“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society…It is not OK,” Josh Shapiro stated.
While no injuries were reported, the breach raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of security protocols at government buildings across the Commonwealth.
Balmer initially evaded police before being captured and is now being held in Dauphin County Prison awaiting arraignment.
The investigation continues with assistance from the FBI, and additional charges of terrorism may be forthcoming as authorities uncover more details about the suspect’s motives and planning.
Shapiro, a Democrat who has gained national attention and was previously considered as a potential running mate for Kamala Harris, has vowed to continue his duties despite the attack.
While the governor has framed this as “an attack, not just on our family, but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” many citizens are questioning why security measures failed to prevent such a brazen assault on a prominent government facility.
