A 38-year-old man from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, named Cody Balmer, has been arrested for setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, causing severe damage and forcing Governor Josh Shapiro and his family to evacuate. Balmer, who used homemade incendiary devices, jumped a fence, broke into the mansion, and then fled the scene, only to be apprehended later in Harrisburg. It is expected that he will be charged with attempted murder, arson, and terrorism. The authorities have not disclosed a motive for the attack, and the F.B.I. is assisting in the investigation.
Governor Shapiro, who was considered as a vice-presidential running mate for Kamala Harris, recounted the terrifying experience of being evacuated from his home in the middle of the night due to a targeted arson attack. He emphasized that such violence is not acceptable, regardless of political affiliations, and must come to an end. The fire caused significant damage to part of the mansion, with blackened, broken windows visible in the background as Shapiro spoke. The State Police confirmed the extent of the damage caused by the fire.
The incident occurred while Governor Shapiro and his family were observing Passover at the mansion, which led to a significant emergency response involving firefighters and law enforcement. The neighbor across the street, Bryan Flores, described waking up to sirens and flashing lights but noted that the situation appeared to be under control by that time. This was not the first time the governor had faced threats, as a man was arrested in 2023 for sending a threatening email, although it remains unclear if charges were filed in connection with that incident.
The Pennsylvania governor’s residence, a significant recreation of Georgian-style architecture completed in 1968, is located near the State Capitol complex in Harrisburg. The residence features art and artifacts available for public tours on the first floor. Recent events, such as the attempted abduction of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan and the assault at Nancy Pelosi’s home resulting in injuries to her husband, have heightened fears around political figures being targeted with violence, though research suggests that extremist violence in the U.S. has actually declined overall.
While American politics have become increasingly polarized and acrimonious in recent years, scholars studying the issue have found that episodes of extremist violence have decreased overall. Despite high-profile incidents like the foiled plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer and the violent attack on Nancy Pelosi’s home, the broader political climate has not been found to have led to a rise in violent incidents. The reporting on the arrest and aftermath of the arson attack was contributed by a team including Campbell Robertson, Amanda Holpuch, Allison Beck, and Susan Beachy.
