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Suspect in Shapiro Attack Planned to Attack Him With Hammer [1]
['Chas Danner', 'Staff Editor At Intelligencer']
Date: 2025-04-14 11:22:00-04:00
Shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, Governor Shapiro was awakened by a Pennsylvania state trooper from his protective detail pounding on his door at the governor’s Harrisburg residence — which had been set on fire in what Shapiro later called a “targeted” attack.
According to police, a 38-year-old man named Cody Balmer jumped the perimeter fence at the governor’s mansion, evaded police, then briefly broke into the building and used homemade incendiary devices to set multiple fires. The suspected arsonist fled but was apprehended and arrested in Harrisburg more than 12 hours later.
New photos show firefighters responding to a fire that broke out at the Governor's Residence in Harrisburg early Sunday morning. Gov. Josh Shapiro says he and his family were evacuated and are safe as officials continue to investigate the fire as arson. pic.twitter.com/V00lbe32XX — CBS Philadelphia (@CBSPhiladelphia) April 13, 2025
Spotlight PA reported on additional details from the police affidavit released after Balmer’s arrest:
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Balmer removed gasoline from a lawn mower and poured it into Heineken bottles he found at his home. He then walked an hour to the governor’s residence, where he scaled a perimeter fence, used a hammer to break two windows, and threw the first of his homemade “Molotov cocktails” inside.
As flames engulfed a portion of the residence, the affidavit states, Balmer entered the stately home and threw a second Molotov cocktail in the residence’s dining room. He then kicked a door open and fled, again scaling the perimeter fence and running away. Police found two gloves Balmer wore stashed in a trash can near the residence.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was able to gain control of the fire in less than half an hour, but not before the blaze did a “significant amount of damage” to part of the building, per the state police. The governor and his family, their two dogs, and another family staying with them were all sleeping in another part of the residence. Everyone was able to evacuate, and there were no reported injuries.
First look at the damage inside the Pennsylvania Governor's mansion pic.twitter.com/Ijw7gmliMJ — SeanKitchen.bsky.social (@pennslinger) April 13, 2025
The attack came just hours after the Shapiro family had celebrated the beginning of Passover on Saturday night. It’s not yet clear what motivated the suspect, but the reception room and banquet hall that he set ablaze was where the they had hosted the Seder:
From the Shapiro family's Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach! pic.twitter.com/2II1Id1W23 — Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 12, 2025
And this is what it looked like after the fire:
Extensive fire damage inside Pennsylvania Governor’s residence after arson attack overnight, seen here in a series of photos provided by @GovernorShapiro officers. pic.twitter.com/06CxpY3d79 — Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) April 13, 2025
The Harrisburg residence is one of two homes where Shapiro, his wife, and their children live.
It’s not yet clear how the alleged attacker was able to evade the police guarding the compound, who detected the breach and searched for the suspect but were unable to find or stop him.
“We look at all aspects, personnel, technical, surveillance equipment, security equipment, all of that will be reviewed, and we will do our best to ensure that the governor and his family are safe in this residence,” state police lieutenant colonel George Bivens said Sunday.
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[1] Url:
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/josh-shapiro-residence-fire-arson-attack-cody-balmer-updates.html
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