Gov. Josh Shapiro at Voith Hydro near York March 11, 2025
A Harrisburg man has been arrested and charged in an arson attack that badly damaged the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and houseguests to flee the home early Sunday, officials said.
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Cody Balmer, faces multiple felony counts – including attempted murder, aggravated arson, aggravated assault and terrorism – in connection with the pre-dawn fire at the governor’s mansion.
State police investigators told reporters that Balmer harbored an intense hatred for Gov. Shapiro, a first-term Democrat, and confessed to carrying out the firebomb attack while fully aware that the governor and his family could be inside.
According to court documents obtained by NBC 10 in Philadelphia, Balmer told troopers he had prepared two Molotov cocktail gasoline bombs and “admitted to harboring hatred towards Gov. Shapiro” before walking about an hour to the residence to carry out the attack.
When asked what he would have done if he encountered the governor during the break-in, Balmer said “he would have beaten him with his hammer,” the affidavit states.
Officials allege Balmer knew it was “a possibility” the Shapiro family was home and could be harmed, but proceeded with the plan regardless.
The arson unfolded around 2 a.m. Sunday, April 13 at the Governor’s Residence on North Front Street in Harrisburg.
Authorities say the intruder scaled a security fence surrounding the property and forcibly entered the mansion through a window, armed with a hammer and homemade incendiaries.
Surveillance footage showed the suspect breaching a first-floor window of a piano room and hurling one Molotov cocktail inside, igniting flames, according to investigators.
He then moved to an adjacent room – later identified as the state dining room – broke another window, and threw a second firebomb before fleeing moments later.
State troopers assigned to guard the residence were alerted by alarms and quickly began searching the grounds, but Balmer managed to evade capture in the darkness even as the fire spread inside, officials said.
“He actively evaded troopers who were here to secure the residence… while they were searching… he broke in and set the fires,” Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police told reporters, describing the suspect’s swift actions during the brief intrusion.
Inside the residence, Governor Shapiro, his wife Lori, their four children and two family friends were asleep after hosting a Passover Seder meal hours earlier, unaware of the impending attack.
Shapiro later recounted that they were awakened by state troopers who rushed them out of the burning mansion to safety.
All occupants – including the Shapiro family’s two dogs – escaped unharmed, and no injuries were reported, according to officials.
The Harrisburg Fire Bureau responded promptly and worked to extinguish the blaze as police evacuated the governor’s family.
Photos of some of the damage caused by the arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's mansion https://t.co/s7VPo3x7vk pic.twitter.com/ghyqY6J1Ef
The fire caused “a significant amount of damage” to a portion of the home, authorities said, charring the south side of the historic residence – particularly a large formal room often used for events and art displays.
Yellow police tape cordoned off the property on Sunday as investigators combed through debris and a police K9 sniffed the grounds behind the iron fence.
Balmer surrendered to police later on Sunday after briefly going on the run, investigators said. According to court filings, a woman described as Balmer’s ex-partner contacted authorities and said he had reached out expressing a desire to turn himself in.
A short time later, Balmer arrived at the Pennsylvania State Police headquarters in Harrisburg and was taken into custody without incident.
Troopers recovered a bag, clothing and a small sledgehammer from Balmer’s home that matched items seen on the surveillance video of the arson, according to the police affidavit.
Dauphin County prosecutors have formally charged Balmer with offenses including attempted homicide, arson, burglary, making terrorist threats, reckless endangerment and related counts.
As of Monday, the suspect remained jailed awaiting a preliminary court hearing.
Officials have not indicated whether Balmer has an attorney, and no plea has been entered at this early stage of the case.
Gov. Shapiro addressed the incident in an emotional press conference Sunday afternoon, speaking publicly just hours after the harrowing close call. “I’m obviously emotional,” Shapiro admitted, describing how his family had gathered in the state dining room the night before to observe the Jewish Passover tradition.
Last night at the Governor’s Residence, we experienced an attack not just on our family, but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
This kind of violence has become far too common in our society, and it has to stop. pic.twitter.com/5HP5JSvgfc
“We told the story of Passover and the story of the Jewish exodus from bondage. I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempted to put on me by attacking us as they did last night,” he said, vowing that the violent attack would not intimidate him.
Standing alongside State Police officials, a visibly moved Shapiro thanked the troopers who roused his family and credited the quick response for preventing an even greater tragedy. Fire officials said that if the blaze had spread further into the residence’s living quarters, the outcome could have been dire, given how rapidly the Molotov cocktails set parts of the house ablaze.
At the press briefing, Shapiro forcefully condemned the attack as part of a broader surge in political violence. “This type of violence is not okay. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” the governor said, raising his voice in anger. “I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other… It is not okay! And it has to stop! We have to be better than this!” Shapiro urged, drawing applause from officials gathered behind him.
Pennsylvania’s Attorney General and other leaders also denounced the incident; former Gov. Mark Schweiker, a Republican, called it a “despicable act of cowardice” and said he was praying for the Shapiro family.
Law enforcement presence was visibly increased at both the damaged Harrisburg mansion and Shapiro’s private residence in Abington Township, Montgomery County, in the aftermath of the arson.
The governor, who splits his time between the official mansion (built in the 1960s) and his home near Philadelphia, received outreach from federal authorities as well. He noted that the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office had all offered assistance in the investigation.
Shapiro, 52, took office as governor in January 2023 and is considered a rising figure in the Democratic Party.
The brazen attack at his residence – coming on the heels of a holiday celebration – has rattled the capital community and prompted discussions about security for public officials. While authorities have not detailed a specific policy grievance or trigger for Balmer’s alleged hatred, the inclusion of a terrorism charge suggests they believe the act was meant to intimidate or harm a government figure.
The Governor’s Residence, a Georgian-style mansion that has housed Pennsylvania’s governors for over half a century, will require extensive repairs before the Shapiro family can return. In the meantime, Gov. Shapiro emphasized that his focus remains on governing: “We won’t be distracted or deterred by this,” he said, thanking the public for an outpouring of support. “My family is safe – and I will make sure justice is served.”
