A 38-year-old man, Cody Balmer, has been arrested and will face significant charges for an alleged arson attack on the residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. This incident occurred shortly after Governor Shapiro and his family celebrated the first night of Passover at their home in Harrisburg.
Authorities reported that Balmer is set to be charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault. His arrest came after he was found in the Harrisburg area with a homemade incendiary device, shortly after the fire erupted at the governor's official residence, a Georgian-style home built in 1968.
Eyewitness reports indicated that Shapiro woke up to the sound of authorities knocking on his door as flames engulfed part of his home. Fortunately, the governor and his family managed to evacuate without injury. Shapiro expressed his emotional reaction to the event during a news conference, stating, "I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempted to put on me by attacking us as they did last night."
The fire, which caused extensive damage to a portion of the residence, was extinguished by local fire services while police focused on evacuating Shapiro's family. Investigators are currently looking into how Balmer gained access to the home, with suggestions that he may have bypassed a surrounding fence.
A reward of $10,000 had been previously offered for information leading to an arrest in connection with this matter. The motive behind Balmer's actions remains unclear, and he is presently in custody as investigations continue. The Shapiro family includes four children, and the governor has been in office since 2023 after a tenure as the state's attorney general.
