Suspect arrested in an alleged criminal fire at the residence of the Governor of Pennsylvania, Shapiro: Da
A suspect is in detention in connection with the night fire at the Governor’s residence in Pennsylvania, which is the subject of an investigation as a criminal start, Pennsylvania state police announced on Sunday at a press conference.
Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were in the residence at the time of the fire, which was reported around 2 am. They were safely evacuated and were not injured, according to the state police.
The suspect was identified as Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, said Dauphin Da Fran Chardo’s county at the press conference.
Investigators are on the scene after a night fire at the Governor’s official residence on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (AP Photo / Marc Levy)
Marc Levy / AP
Chardo said the charges, which should be deposited on Sunday, will include an attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated criminal fire and aggravated assault against a listed person.
Shapiro said at the press conference that the attack was “targeted”.
“We know that this attack has been targeted … This type of violence is not correct,” said the governor. “And I don’t care if it comes on one side or the other particular, led by one or another,” he added.
A senior informed law enforcement official of the survey told ABC News on Sunday that the authorities are planning to know if the attack could have been fueled by the fact that Governor Shapiro is Jewish and that the fire was set the first night of Passover.
A few hours before the fire, the Governor of Pennsylvania had poster A photo of the Seder’s table of his family’s Passover on X, writing: “From the Seder’s table of the Shapiro family to yours, the happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!”
Shapiro addressed the possible reason for the conference, saying the suspect: “If he was trying to terrorize my family, my friends … Let’s hear me on this subject, we celebrated our faith proudly, no one will dissuade me from celebrating my faith openly and proudly.”
Governor Josh Shapiro speaks at a press conference concerning the shooting at UPMC Memorial hospital in York, Pennsylvania, Saturday February 22, 2025. (AP photo / Matt Rourke, file)
Matt Rourke / AP
Lieutenant-Colonel George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State police, George Bivens, detailed the alleged attack, claiming that the suspect came to a fence and actively eluded the soldiers while looking for him on the property.
While they were looking for, the suspect intervened and made fires, according to Bivens, who said that the incident had played “over a period of several minutes”.
Earlier Sunday, Shapiro said in a statement: “My family and I woke up to a fringe at the Pennsylvania state police after a burned fire at the Governor’s residence in Harrisburg.
“Thank goodness, no one was injured and the fire has died,” he added.
State police said that while the investigation was continuing, “state police are ready to say at the time of a criminal fire.”
The fire caused “a large amount of damage” to part of the residence, according to the state police.
Shapiro was elected governor of Pennsylvania in 2022 and was considered vice-president for 2024 Democratic candidate for president Kamala Harris before finally choosing the governor of Minnesota Tim Walz. Shapiro served two terms as a state prosecutor before being elected governor.
