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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home set on fire by arsonist while his family slept
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were forced to evacuate the governor’s mansion after an arsonist set it on fire during Passover while they were sleeping, he announced.
The blaze broke out early Sunday just hours after the governor posted a picture of his family celebrating the first night of Passover,
A 38-year-old man has been arrested by Pennsylvania State Police after allegedly jumping a fence and entering the governor’s gated property on Saturday night.
Cody Balmer of Harrisburg has been arrested following the alleged attack, and faces potential charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault against an enumerated person, state police commissioner Colonel Christopher Paris told a Sunday news conference.
The arson attack remains under active investigation, police said, with no word yet on a motive.
“Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg,”
“The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” he added.
The fire was deemed as an “act of arson” and caused a “significant amount of damage” to the residence, according to Pennsylvania State Police.
Follow the latest on the arson attack at Josh Shapiro’s residence:
- Suspected arsonist Cody Balmer targeted Pa. Gov. Josh Shapiro’s home over what pol ‘wants to do to Palestinian people’: report
- Cops confirm suspected arsonist Cody Balmer’s mom tried to have him committed 3 days before attack on gov’s house — but they couldn’t do anything
- Pa. madman who firebombed Gov. Shapiro’s home is ‘domestic terrorist’ and should be sent to El Salvador hellhole prison, fire chief says
- New photos inside Gov. Shapiro’s residence reveal level of destruction from arson attack
The flames were mostly contained on the residence’s south side at a large room used for entertaining crowds and host art displays, officials said.
Fortunately, Shapiro and his family were sleeping in a different part of the home from where the fire was located, police added.
While police are not saying whether they believe the arson attack may have been motivated by antisemitism, many have drawn the conclusion given the timing of the incident.
“Very happy the Governor and his family are okay. Of course, it was on the first night of Passover,” US Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) wrote on X.
Lt. Gov. Austin Davis added: “I won’t speculate on motivations, but I will say that targeting elected officials and their family members with violence is never acceptable.
“There is no room in America or our Commonwealth for lawlessness, violence, and hatred, and such acts must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Senator Dave McCormick (R-PA) said.
Rep. Dan Meuser (R-PA), who is considering a run against Shapiro, also slammed the arson attack on the governor’s mansion.
“What happened last night was not just an attack on one family, it was an attack on the values we all share as Americans,” Meuser added. “And it is particularly disgraceful that this occurred on Passover — a sacred time of faith, freedom, and reflection.”
These sorts of acts deter good people from pursuing public service at a time when we desperately need more Americans to participate in our democracy.
The high profile Democratic governor is seen as a possible top contender for the White House in 2028, and was strongly considered as Kamala Harris’ running-mate in 2024.
Investigators are offering a $10,000 reward for tips that lead to the arrest of a suspect.
The Governor’s Residence stands at 2035 North Front Street and has served as the home of eight governors and their families since 1968.
