The overnight fire at the Pennsylvania Governor’s residence was started by a mechanic who had previously expressed his disdain on social media for Democrats. Sources familiar with Josh Shapiro’s home have confirmed that he is suspected of arson.
Gov. Josh Shapiro was in the house with his family at the time the fire broke out, which occurred at around 2 a.m. ET. According to the state police, they were able to evacuate them safely without any injuries.
Sources claim that the suspect used “a Molotov Cocktail” to ignite the fire.
During the press conference, Dauphin County DA Franchardo identified the suspect as Cody Balmer (38) of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Chardo stated that charges would be filed on Sunday for attempted murder, terrorist acts, arson, and aggravated assault.
Balmer’s public complaints against the Democratic Party were, according to sources familiar with him, primarily financial in nature.
Sources said that investigators are also digging through records to determine if Balmer was experiencing financial difficulties.
Shapiro stated during the press conference that the attack was “targeted.”
“We do know that this attack was targeted… this type of violence is not okay,” the governor 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,” he added.
The Pennsylvania governor posted a photo of the Seder Table his family had used for Passover on X just hours before the fire. He wrote, “From our Seder Table to yours, Happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!”
Shapiro discussed the motives during the press conference. He said of the suspect: “If he tried to terrorize my friends, my family… listen, we celebrated proudly our faith, and no one can stop me from celebrating it openly.”
Sources stated that investigators had not ruled Shapiro’s Jewish religion out as a motivating factor. Sources added that they are not ruling out mental health issues as a possible motive for the suspect.
Pennsylvania State Police Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens described the alleged assault, saying that the suspect jumped over a fence to elude troopers who were searching the property for him.
According to Bivens, who stated that the incident took place “over several minutes”, the suspect entered the house and started the fires.
Sources said that investigators sliced the part of the fence Balmer is alleged to have hopped over to gain access into the house so they could perform a DNA test.
Shapiro had said earlier in a press release, “My family and I were woken up by bangings at the door of the Pennsylvania State Police, after an arsonist lit fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.”While the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire worked to extinguish the fire, Capitol Police and Pennsylvania State Police helped us evacuate safely from the residence.”
He added, “Thank God nobody was hurt, and the fire was able to be extinguished.”
State Police said they are prepared to declare that, while the investigation continues, this is an arson attack.
According to the state police, the fire damaged a large portion of a residence.
Shapiro, who was elected Pennsylvania Governor in 2022, was considered a possible candidate for Vice President for Kamala Harris’s Democratic Presidential Candidate 2024 before she chose Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Shapiro was the attorney general of New York for two terms before being elected Governor.