Man Arrested In Arson At PA Governor’s Mansion

April 13, 2025 Crime, Politics

USA Today reports:

A person was taken into custody in connection with a suspected arson attack that caused a “significant amount of damage” to the home of Gov. Josh Shapiro, authorities said, hours after the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s family celebrated the start of Passover.

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was arrested on April 13, Col. Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, said during a news conference. Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said his office is preparing a criminal complaint to charge Balmer.

“This is not of record yet, but the charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person,” Chardo said at the news conference. “These are all very serious charges. As with any charges, the defendant is presumed innocent.”

The Associated Press reports:

Authorities said the suspect hopped over a fence surrounding the property and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire. The fire broke out overnight on the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover, which Shapiro and his family had celebrated at the governor’s official residence in the state capital of Harrisburg.

State police gave no other details about the cause of the fire at the Susquehanna Riverfront mansion but said it caused a “significant amount of damage” to a portion of the residence. Shapiro and his family had been sleeping in a different part of the residence, police said. On Sunday, fire damage was visible on the residence’s south side, primarily to a large room often used for entertaining crowds and art displays. Large west-facing windows were completely missing their glass panes and doors stood ajar amid signs of charring.

Watch Shapiro’s furious comments below.



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