Suspect arrested in arson fire at Pennsylvania governor's residence

HARRISBURG — A man was arrested on charges of setting an early morning fire Sunday that badly damaged the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in Harrisburg and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to flee.

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg is facing charges that include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault, Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said.

Shapiro and his family were awakened by state troopers about 2 a.m. Sunday and evacuated. The governor said at an afternoon news conference that he, his wife, their four children and another family had celebrated the first night of Passover, a Jewish holiday, at the residence on Saturday.

Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were…

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2025

No one was injured and the fire was extinguished, authorities said.

Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris emphasized at the news conference that the investigation is continuing. State police do not anticipate any conspiracy charges, indicating that Balmer is believed to have acted alone.

The fire caused a “significant amount of damage” to a portion of the residence along the Susquehanna River. Shapiro and his family had been sleeping in a different part of the building, police said.

Authorities said the suspect hopped over a fence surrounding the property, forcibly entered the building and set the fire with homemade incendiary devices. State Police Deputy Commissioner George Bivens said Balmer evaded police who knew there had been a breach. Bivens said Balmer was later arrested in the area.

While the attack was targeted, Balmer’s specific motive is not yet known, Shapiro said.

“We do know a few truths,” Shapiro said during his opening remarks at the news conference. “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. We have a responsibility to all be better.

“Second, if this individual was trying to deter me from doing my job as your governor, rest assured I will find a way to work even harder than I was just yesterday for the good people of Pennsylvania.

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

“Here’s a third truth. If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community who joined us for a Passover seder in that room last night, hear me on this: We celebrated our faith last night proudly, and in a few hours we will celebrate our second seder of Passover again proudly. No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly.”

Later in the news conference, Shapiro recounted how they had told the story of Passover, going from bondage and slavery into freedom, in the state dining room Saturday night before the fire.

“I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us as they did here last night,” he said. “I refuse to let anyone who had evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love, stop me from being a leader of this commonwealth and looking out for all Pennsylvanians. I will not be deterred in my work, and I will not be afraid to do that work.”

The governor expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers and first responders for keeping them safe.

Attorney General Dave Sunday said on social media: “I’m relieved Gov. Shapiro and his family are safe after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence overnight. I join all Pennsylvanians in praying for the Shapiro family following this criminal act. … The Office of the Attorney General stands ready with any resources needed to find the culprit of this senseless act of violence.”

State Senate Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Greensburg, expressed her concern on social media: “The most important thing is Gov. Shapiro and his family are safe and healthy. I am grateful for the work of our firefighters and law enforcement agencies for their quick response to this tragic incident, and will review the investigation details once complete.”

The most important thing is Gov. Shapiro and his family are safe and healthy. I am grateful for the work of our firefighters and law enforcement agencies for their quick response to this tragic incident, and will review the investigation details once complete. https://t.co/LbMdXTpQZs

— Sen. Kim Ward (@SenatorKimWard) April 13, 2025

Pittsburgh City Council member Erika Strassburger, D-Squirrel Hill, commented on Facebook: “Very glad to hear Governor Shapiro and his family are safe. The targeting of elected officials with increasingly frequent and scary threats we now see is never okay, but to do this to a Jewish elected official and his family on the first night of Passover is a sign of a deeper sickness in our country right now. Although a motive is not yet known, I find all of this unacceptable.”

Bishop David Zubik of the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh said: “We should all be shocked at the reported act of arson at the residence of Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family. Particularly during this Holy Week for Christians and Passover time for the Jewish people, we focus on the deep love that God has for all of us. We must be deeply grateful that Gov. Shapiro and his family are safe, and we must also pray for an end to violence, which goes against everything good about us as human beings.”

StopAntisemitism, a national watchdog organization, said in a social media post: “Jewish Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home was set on fire by arsonists on the first night of Passover. Is this what it means to be Jewish in America now?”

Shapiro, viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, said he had received pledges of help from the Department of Justice, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office as well as numerous messages of support from fellow governors and others.

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.

There was a police presence Sunday as yellow tape cordoned off an alleyway, investigators observed the damage inside and an officer led a dog outside an iron security fence before investigators sawed off a section from the top of the security fence on the residence’s south side. They wrapped it in heavy black plastic and took it away in a vehicle.

Shapiro splits his time between the mansion that has housed governors since it was built in the 1960s and a home in Abington, about 100 miles east. He posted a photograph on social media Saturday of the family’s Passover seder table at the residence.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker, a Republican, called the attack a “despicable act of cowardice” and said he hoped Pennsylvanians joined him and his wife in keeping the Shapiros in their prayers.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge, also a Republican, said images of the damage to the residence where he lived for eight years with his family were “heartbreaking” and said the attack on the official residence was shocking.

“Whoever is responsible for this attack — to both the Shapiro family and our commonwealth — must be held to account,” Ridge said.

Tribune-Review staff writer Brian Rittmeyer contributed to this story.