Pennsylvania governor’s mansion attack suspect Cody Balmer admitted ‘harboring hatred’ toward Shapiro: police

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Pennsylvania governor’s mansion badly damaged in arson attack

Video shows the inside of the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion after a man allegedly set it on fire, causing extensive damage. Cody Balmer, 38, was arrested and charged in connection to the attack. (Video: Commonwealth Media Services)

The man who allegedly set fire to the mansion of Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Penn., and his family is being called a “domestic terrorist,” “not a fan of Trump” and a “whack job.”

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, is “currently receiving treatment” at a hospital, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) said. 

Balmer’s alleged acts were called “domestic terrorism” against the city of Harrisburg, Harrisburg Bureau of Fire and the governor of Pennsylvania by Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline during a media conference on Monday. 

Meantime, President Donald Trump was asked during his meeting with El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele if he had learned of a possible motive for Balmer.

PENNSYLVANIA POLICE ARREST SUSPECT AFTER GOVERNOR’S MANSION SET ON FIRE WHILE GOV JOSH SHAPIRO, FAMILY SLEPT

Cody Balmer, 38, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, and related offenses for allegedly setting fire to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s, D-Penn., governor’s mansion on April 13, 2025. (Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office)

“No, I haven’t, but, the attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand,” Trump said. “That just from what I read and from what I’ve been told, the attacker basically wasn’t a fan of anybody’s. Probably just a whack job. And certainly a thing like that can not be allowed to happen.”

Balmer was first identified to police by an ex-lover after he allegedly confessed to her and “wanted her to call police to turn him in,” according to the criminal complaint obtained by Fox News. It was only a short time later that Balmer turned himself in outside Pennsylvania State Police headquarters, police said. 

A criminal complaint released on Monday, April 14, 2025, described the arson attack at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion. (Associated Press)

“Due to a medical event not connected to this incident or his arrest, Balmer was transported to an area hospital where he is currently receiving treatment,” PSP said in a statement. “He remains under PSP supervision and will be transported to the Dauphin County Prison for arraignment upon his release.”

While being interviewed by troopers, “Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro.” Balmer allegedly told investigators “he removed gasoline from a lawn mower and poured it into Heineken bottles he found at his residence.”

Balmer allegedly said he walked an hour to the governor’s mansion “with the intention of throwing his homemade Molotov cocktails into the residence.”

Troopers say Balmer admitted to scaling a perimeter fence, breaking two windows with a hammer and throwing Molotov cocktails inside. The arson suspect allegedly admitted he was aware it was a possibility that Shapiro and others were home at the time and “it was a possibility that people could be injured by his actions.”

Had Balmer come face-to-face with Shapiro, he allegedly said, “he would have beaten him with his hammer.” Following the interview, Balmer was taken into custody.  

Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania State Police provide an update on the act of arson that took place at the Governor’s Residence. (Commonwealth Media Services)

Police say the arson suspect was caught on security cameras both in and outside the mansion “wearing a black ‘Snap-On’ jacket, black boots and carrying a bag.” Troopers say they found the jacket, bag “and a small sledge hammer” at Balmer’s home.  

The fire broke out around 2 a.m. Sunday after Shapiro, considered a potential presidential contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, and his family celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover.

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“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” the politician said. “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 okay and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”