Documents say suspect planned to attack Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in arson at his residence
Authorities stated that the man is facing charges that include attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault.
TroibNews 
A man who officials report scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, evaded police, and broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, where he started a fire, had intended to strike Gov. Josh Shapiro with a hammer if he encountered him, according to court documents released Monday.
The fire inflicted considerable damage and necessitated the evacuation of Shapiro, his family, and guests early Sunday morning. Authorities stated that the man, arrested later that day, faces charges including attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault.
During a police interview, Cody Balmer, the suspect, allegedly told officers after his arrest that he would have attacked Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he had found him. Balmer reportedly walked for an hour from his home to the governor’s residence. The police affidavit noted, “Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro,” though the reason was not clarified.
Shapiro recounted that he, his wife, their four children, two dogs, and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the mansion on Saturday and were awakened around 2 a.m. Sunday by state troopers knocking on their doors. They evacuated as firefighters extinguished the blaze, which resulted in no injuries.
At a Sunday evening news conference outside the heavily damaged south wing of the governor’s residence, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris identified the suspect as Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg.
According to authorities, Balmer was taken to Dauphin County Prison, although it remains unclear whether he has legal representation. Attempts to contact individuals believed to be relatives were either unanswered or went unreturned on Sunday. One residence linked to Balmer in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022.
Shapiro highlighted that he is undeterred by the incident. He asserted that if Balmer aimed to impede his responsibilities, he would work even harder, emphasizing that Balmer would not prevent him from practicing his faith.
“When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom,” Shapiro stated. “I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.”
Authorities indicated that the suspect scaled a nearly 7-foot-high iron security fence surrounding the property, evaded officers who noticed the breach, and forcibly entered the residence before igniting the fire. He used beer bottles filled with gasoline to create Molotov cocktails, according to the documents.
Lt. Col. George Bivens noted that Balmer seemed to have carefully planned the assault and was inside the residence for about a minute before escaping. He was subsequently arrested in the area.
Balmer has a history of criminal charges over the past decade, including simple assault, theft, and forgery, as revealed by online criminal court records.
In regards to the incident, Shapiro emphasized the importance of societal standards. “We don’t know the person’s specific motive yet,” he remarked at the news conference. “But we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
The fire caused extensive damage to the large room commonly used for entertaining and displaying art, with large west- and south-facing windows completely missing their glass panes, shattered glass strewn about, and doors left ajar showing signs of charring. Inside, a charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet serving dishes, and more could be seen through broken windows and fire-damaged doors.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
The fire inflicted considerable damage and necessitated the evacuation of Shapiro, his family, and guests early Sunday morning. Authorities stated that the man, arrested later that day, faces charges including attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault.
During a police interview, Cody Balmer, the suspect, allegedly told officers after his arrest that he would have attacked Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he had found him. Balmer reportedly walked for an hour from his home to the governor’s residence. The police affidavit noted, “Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro,” though the reason was not clarified.
Shapiro recounted that he, his wife, their four children, two dogs, and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the mansion on Saturday and were awakened around 2 a.m. Sunday by state troopers knocking on their doors. They evacuated as firefighters extinguished the blaze, which resulted in no injuries.
At a Sunday evening news conference outside the heavily damaged south wing of the governor’s residence, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris identified the suspect as Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg.
According to authorities, Balmer was taken to Dauphin County Prison, although it remains unclear whether he has legal representation. Attempts to contact individuals believed to be relatives were either unanswered or went unreturned on Sunday. One residence linked to Balmer in Harrisburg was condemned in 2022.
Shapiro highlighted that he is undeterred by the incident. He asserted that if Balmer aimed to impede his responsibilities, he would work even harder, emphasizing that Balmer would not prevent him from practicing his faith.
“When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom,” Shapiro stated. “I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.”
Authorities indicated that the suspect scaled a nearly 7-foot-high iron security fence surrounding the property, evaded officers who noticed the breach, and forcibly entered the residence before igniting the fire. He used beer bottles filled with gasoline to create Molotov cocktails, according to the documents.
Lt. Col. George Bivens noted that Balmer seemed to have carefully planned the assault and was inside the residence for about a minute before escaping. He was subsequently arrested in the area.
Balmer has a history of criminal charges over the past decade, including simple assault, theft, and forgery, as revealed by online criminal court records.
In regards to the incident, Shapiro emphasized the importance of societal standards. “We don’t know the person’s specific motive yet,” he remarked at the news conference. “But we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
The fire caused extensive damage to the large room commonly used for entertaining and displaying art, with large west- and south-facing windows completely missing their glass panes, shattered glass strewn about, and doors left ajar showing signs of charring. Inside, a charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet serving dishes, and more could be seen through broken windows and fire-damaged doors.
Debra A Smith for TROIB News
