Cody Balmer, 38, allegedly set Pennsylvania governor’s mansion on fire
The man accused of setting fire to Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion in Pennsylvania, Cody Balmer, has turned himself in to authorities. Balmer, 38, confessed to his ex-lover, who then notified the police. Shortly after, Balmer surrendered himself outside the Pennsylvania State Police headquarters.
During the investigation, Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro. He confessed to removing gasoline from a lawn mower and pouring it into Heineken bottles he found at his residence. Balmer stated that he walked for an hour to the governor’s mansion with the intention of throwing homemade Molotov cocktails inside.
According to troopers, Balmer admitted to scaling a perimeter fence, breaking windows with a hammer, and throwing Molotov cocktails into the mansion. He acknowledged that there was a possibility of Shapiro and others being inside at the time and that his actions could have caused harm to individuals.
Balmer further confessed that if he had encountered Shapiro during the attack, he would have used his hammer against him. Following the interview, Balmer was taken to Dauphin County Prison for arraignment.
Security cameras captured footage of Balmer both inside and outside the mansion wearing specific attire and carrying a bag. Authorities found the jacket, bag, and a small sledgehammer at Balmer’s residence.
The fire occurred at 2 a.m. on Sunday while Governor Shapiro and his family were celebrating the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Shapiro, a potential presidential contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, condemned the violence, emphasizing the need for society to address such behavior.
“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” Shapiro stated. “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.”
The incident underscores the importance of addressing political violence and promoting a more civil discourse in society.
