Gov. Shapiro residence set on fire while family was sleeping: Police say suspect was 'calculated'
Police confirmed that a man, identified as 38-year-old Cody Balmer with a Harrisburg post office address, is in custody. FOX 5 NY's Kendall Green has the latest.
The Brief
- Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home was set on fire Sunday while he and his family slept inside, according to police.
- Police confirmed that a man, identified as 38-year-old Cody Balmer with a Harrisburg post office address, is in custody.
- Police said the suspect clearly had a plan and moved "without a lot of hurry," carrying out the act in a short period of time.
PENNSYLVANIA - A man is in custody after allegedly setting fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence while he and his family were asleep inside, according to police.
Gov. Shapiro responds to home set on fire while family was sleeping: 'This attack was targeted'
Police say the incident is being investigated as arson and attempted homicide by arson. They also confirmed that a man, identified as 38-year-old Cody Balmer with a Harrisburg post office address, is in custody.
Police said the suspect clearly had a plan and moved "without a lot of hurry," carrying out the act in a short period of time.
Gov. Josh Shapiro house fire, man in custody
The windows and door is damaged from an overnight fire at the governor’s official residence on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
What we know:
The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Cody Balmer from Harrisburg, is accused of hopping a fence to access the Governor’s Residence and using homemade incendiary devices to start the fire.
Authorities say Balmer then evaded state troopers who were already at the scene searching for him.
Pictures of the damage caused
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HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA - APRIL 13: Extensive fire damage to the Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion and Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence is seen during a press conference on April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Authorities have one suspect, Cody Balmer, in custody and say that the suspect accessed the property from a fence in the back. (Photo by Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images)
Officials released images of the damage done to the Governor's Residence.
The fire broke out on the first night of Passover, a holiday that Gov. Shapiro and his family were celebrating at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
State police rushed to the scene around 2 a.m. after receiving reports of the blaze.
While the fire caused significant damage, including damage to windows and doors, the family was safely evacuated, and no one was injured.
"This attack was targeted," Shapiro said at a press conference Sunday.
Police say the suspect was 'calculated'
Investigators are on the scene after an overnight fire at the governor’s official residence on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
The suspect allegedly carried out the act in a calculated manner, with police noting that he appeared to have a plan and executed it "without a lot of hurry," all within a short span of time.
The windows and door is damaged from an overnight fire at the governor’s official residence on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
Police say Balmer used homemade incendiary devices to set the fire before exiting the property the same way he entered. Authorities later apprehended him in the Harrisburg area.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, and police have not identified any connections that might explain the suspect’s actions.
OAKS, PA - NOVEMBER 08: Democratic gubernatorial nominee Josh Shapiro embraces his family after giving a victory speech to supporters at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center on November 8, 2022 in Oaks, Pennsylvania. Shapiro defeated Republican guber
Who is Josh Shapiro?
Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania, during a campaign event with US Vice President Kamala Harris, not pictured, outside the Philadelphia Museum of Art in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are
Viewed as a potential White House contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, Shapiro played a key role in the 2020 presidential election by serving as a campaign surrogate for Joe Biden in Pennsylvania.
Josh Shapiro, governor of Pennsylvania, center, at The Alan Horwitz "Sixth Man" Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US, on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. Vice President Kamala Harris is zeroing in on a group of potential running mates, as she faces a two-
As Pennsylvania’s attorney general, he arguably helped secure crucial victories for Biden in the battleground state, solidifying his reputation as a rising star within the party.
The Source: Information from this article was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police and Gov. Josh Shapiro.
