Arsonist To Face Attempted Murder, Terrorism Charges In PA Governor's Residence Fire: DA

HARRISBURG, PA — A 38-year-old Harrisburg man was arrested and will be charged with attempted murder and terrorism after he set fire to the governor's residence just hours after Gov. Josh Shapiro celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover with his family on the property, according to authorities.

Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris identified the man in custody as Cody Balmer. In addition to attempted murder and terrorism, he will face charges of aggravated arson and aggravated assault against an enumerated person, according to Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo.

“Last night we experienced an attack not just on our family but on the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania here at the governor’s residence," Shapiro said in a Sunday evening news conference.

“... 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.”

The governor said Sunday morning in a social media post that around 2 a.m. he and his family "woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg."

Balmer accessed the property by coming over a fence, then forcibly entered the residence and set the fire, according to authorities, who said he used "homemade incendiary devices" to start the blaze. He was in the home for less than a minute but was on the property where the residence is located for several minutes before escaping over a fence, police said, adding he was apprehended later on Sunday in Harrisburg.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to the blaze at the home on North Front Street, according to state police.

"While the investigation is ongoing, the State Police is prepared to say at this time that this was an act of arson," the agency said in a news release Sunday morning. "While the fire was successfully extinguished, it caused a significant amount of damage to a portion of the residence. The Governor and his family were present in a different part of the residence. They were evacuated safely and were not injured."

State police are leading the investigation. The governor said he had spoken with FBI Director Kash Patel, who had promised to provide federal resources.

Shapiro said he was "eternally grateful" to law enforcement and first responders, and that he planned to be back in the governor's residence "very soon."

“We celebrated our faith last night proudly and in a few hours we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover again proudly," the governor said Sunday evening. "No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly."

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.

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Mark Schweiker, a Republican, called the attack a “despicable act of cowardice" and said he hoped Pennsylvanians joined he 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.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.