Fire at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home was arson, police say
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro said he “woke up to bangs on the door” at 2 a.m. after an arsonist set fire to the governor’s residence.
A person was taken into custody in connection with a suspected arson attack that caused a “significant amount of damage” to the home of Gov. Josh Shapiro, authorities said, hours after the Pennsylvania lawmaker’s family celebrated the start of Passover.
Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was arrested on April 13, Col. Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, said during a news conference. Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said his office is preparing a criminal complaint to charge Balmer.
“This is not of record yet, but the charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person,” Chardo said at the news conference. “These are all very serious charges. As with any charges, the defendant is presumed innocent.”
Shapiro said 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” around 2 a.m. on April 13. His family was safely evacuated from the residence by state troopers, and no one was injured, the governor added.
Another family in the house was also safely evacuated, Shapiro confirmed.
“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 at the news conference.
Fire investigated as an act of arson, attempted homicide
Paris said the attack is being investigated as an act of arson as well as an attempted homicide and aggravated arson.
Shapiro said he was in contact with FBI Director Kash Patel, who “promised all of the resources of the federal government.” The FBI’s Philadelphia field office was also in touch with State Police, according to Paris.
Authorities said the suspect allegedly came over a fence surrounding the residence and forcibly entered the home before setting the fire.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said Balmer had “some homemade incendiary devices” and evaded troopers who knew there had been a security breach.
Shapiro said he was not fearful but concerned for his family. He would not say if he considered it a hate crime, saying he would leave that determination to investigators.
Pennsylvania State Police have not commented on a motive and said the investigation remains ongoing.
Who is Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro
Shapiro grew up in Abington, a township north of Philadelphia, and still maintains a home there with his wife and their children.
In 2004, Shapiro won his first Pennsylvania House of Representatives race in the 153rd District in Montgomery County. He held this seat from 2005 to 2011, serving on appropriations, finance, insurance, judiciary, and state government committees.
Shapiro shifted gears in 2012, winning a Montgomery County commissioner seat. He would later serve as Pennsylvania’s Attorney General.
He would later become one of the most well-known Democratic governors in the country — and has fielded questions about a future run for president — after reports that he was on the shortlist to run as Kamala Harris’ vice president in the 2024 election.
Shapiro is Pennsylvania’s third Jewish governor. He is staunchly pro-Israel, and has drawn criticism from pro-Palestinian groups for that support since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel and the Israeli army’s ongoing assault on Gaza.
In late 2023, a Pennsylvania man was arrested and charged with threatening to assault Shapiro.
“I’m obviously emotional,” Shapiro admitted during a news conference after the fire. “When we were in the state dining room last night — gathered with the community and family and friends — we told the story of Passover.”
“It’s a story of going from bondage, from slavery into freedom,” he added. “I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempts to put on me by attacking us, as they did here last night.”
Shapiro’s family celebrated Passover hours before the fire
Hours before the fire broke out at Shapiro’s residence, the family was celebrating the start of Passover, a Jewish holiday that commemorates the Jewish Exodus from Egypt.
Passover began at sundown on April 12 and ends at sundown on April 20.
“From the Shapiro family’s Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!” Shapiro wrote at 3 p.m. on X the day of the fire.
Shapiro’s family, like other Jewish families, held a seder, a traditional Passover meal that includes reading, drinking four cups of wine, telling stories, eating special foods, singing, and other traditions.
“Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” Shapiro wrote in a statement posted to X after the blaze. Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run toward danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.”
U.S. lawmakers after blaze: ‘Saddened and deeply disturbed’
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said he was “saddened and deeply disturbed” to learn of the arson attack on Shapiro’s residence.
“I am praying for him and for his family’s safety, and I am grateful to the law enforcement and first responders who acted quickly to bring them to safety,” he wrote in a post on X.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Democratic Sen. John Fetterman called the attack “truly appalling” and was “profoundly grateful” that Shaprio and his family are unharmed.
“Whoever did this must be held to the fullest extent of the law,” he wrote in a post on social media.
Republican lawmakers also joined their democratic colleagues in condemning the attack.
Sen. Thom Tillis said he was glad that Shapiro and his family are safe. “Violence targeting elected officials is never acceptable, and I hope the criminal who did this faces the full weight of the law,” he said on X.
Republican Rep. Mike Lawler also added on X that he was “relieved” to hear that Shapiro and his family are safe and that there’s “no place for violence in our political system. Ever.”
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Contributing: Jo Ciavaglia, Bucks County Courier Times; Chris Sims, Louisville Courier Journal
