Arrest Made In Arson At PA Governor's Mansion

(NY Post Graphic)

A suspect has been arrested after an arson attack on the Pennsylvania governor's mansion as Governor Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside early Sunday morning. At a press conference on Sunday, authorities named 38-year-old Cody Balmer as the suspect.

Balmer will be charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault against an enumerated person, according to officials.

Early Sunday, April 14, an arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, forcing Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family to evacuate. The blaze caused significant damage, state police reported. No injuries occurred, with the family fleeing around 2 a.m. as firefighters tackled the fire.

Shapiro, 51, a first-term governor and potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidate, is known for his moderate stance and bipartisan work. Pennsylvania’s third Jewish governor, he often highlights how his faith guides his leadership. On Saturday, the first night of Passover, he shared a photo of his family’s seder at the mansion.

Posting on X Sunday, Shapiro described waking to state police banging on the door. “Thank God no one was hurt, and the fire was out,” he wrote, expressing gratitude to first responders for their bravery.

The 29,000-square-foot mansion along the Susquehanna River sustained visible damage, including a charred door and shattered windows. Photos showed part of a fence near the blown-out windows removed by authorities. Details on the fire’s origin, duration, or method remain unclear.

Authorities did not immediately say for how long the fire was burning, where in the residence it began, or how it was started.