Gov. Josh Shapiro's Home Set Ablaze in Apparent Political Attack
In the dark hours of the morning of April 13, 2025, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family awoke to loud banging on their door — not from a visitor, but from state police warning them that their home was on fire. Now, authorities say the blaze was no accident — and the man responsible had a sinister motive.
A Plot Fueled by Hatred
Cody Balmer, 38, is facing a long list of charges after allegedly setting fire to the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg while Shapiro, his wife, and their guests were asleep inside. Among the charges: attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, and terrorism, according to Fox 29.
FOX 29 reported that according to court documents, Balmer admitted to police that he was "harboring hatred" toward Shapiro. He detailed how he filled beer bottles with gasoline, scaled the fence, smashed windows with a hammer, and hurled homemade Molotov cocktails into the residence.
Court documents detailed that Balmer told investigators he would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer had he encountered him inside.
Political Anger and a 911 Confession
The motive behind the attack may have been tied to global politics. About 50 minutes after setting the fire, Balmer called 911, stating he would not support Shapiro's "plans for the Palestinian people," referencing the ongoing Gaza conflict, NPR reported.
Shapiro, who is Jewish and has supported a two-state solution, previously faced criticism for an op-ed he wrote as a student, but it's unclear if Balmer had any direct ties to the Palestinian territories.
When Balmer was later found and arrested, officials discovered gloves and other evidence matching him to surveillance footage from the scene.
'Violence Has No Place in Our Society'
In a statement following the attack, Shapiro said, "This kind of violence has no place in our society regardless of what motivates it. This is not how we resolve our differences," per NBC News.
The fire caused extensive damage to the dining and piano rooms of the mansion, just hours after the family had hosted a Passover Seder. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Prominent political figures, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and Vice President JD Vance, condemned the attack. "Really disgusting violence, and I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice," Vance said on X, formerly Twitter, according to NBC News.
Still, tensions remain high. Shapiro noted that he had not heard from President Donald Trump regarding the attack, though Trump commented briefly when asked, calling Balmer "probably just a whack job," per NBC News.
The Road Ahead
Balmer remains in custody at Dauphin County Prison, denied bail, with court officials moving to determine his competency to stand trial. Investigators have seized electronics and writings from Balmer's residence to examine potential ties to extremist ideologies.
As Shapiro told reporters, according to NBC News, the larger message is clear: "This level of violence has to end, and it has to be roundly condemned by everyone, both political parties, people from all different walks of life."
References: Cody Balmer: Suspect denied bail for attempted murder, arson at Gov. Shapiro's home | Governor's mansion arson suspect was angry about Gaza War, Pennsylvania police say | Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro says he hasn't heard from Trump since the arson attack | Who is Josh Shapiro, whose home was damaged in 'act of arson'? What to know about PA gov
