The official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro was set on fire late at night following a family Passover Seder, while the Jewish governor, his wife, and their children were asleep in another part of the house. According to a report published Wednesday in The New York Times, the suspect, 24-year-old Cody Balmer, called the police himself and explained that he acted because of Shapiro’s stance on the war in Gaza. In his words: “My people have suffered too much because of this monster.”
Smashed windows with a hammer, threw Molotov cocktails, and entered the home
According to details from the arrest warrant, Balmer walked for about an hour from his home carrying beer bottles he had filled with gasoline from a lawnmower. He climbed the iron fence surrounding the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, broke two windows with a hammer, threw the incendiary bottles inside, and even entered the building himself to help the fire spread.
Balmer: “I’ll admit to everything I did”
The suspect was arrested an hour later after calling 911. He told the dispatcher he was not hiding and added: “I’ll admit to everything I did.” The report notes that Balmer has a history of receiving mental health treatment and had previously been suspected of assaulting family members. However, the criminal background and the primary motive for the arson appear to be based mainly on his own statements to police.
“We celebrated our faith and will continue to do so”
Governor Shapiro, a traditionally observant Conservative Jew, issued a statement after the attack, making it clear that the incident would not deter him.
“If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night? Hear me on this: We celebrated our faith last night proudly, and in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover, again, proudly.”
Extensive fire damage inside Pennsylvania Governor’s residence after arson attack overnight, seen here in a series of photos provided by @GovernorShapiro officers. pic.twitter.com/06CxpY3d79
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) April 13, 2025
“Tonight they protected us”
Shapiro also praised the security forces for their quick response, which he said saved his family’s lives. He expressed the family’s appreciation: “Every day, we stand with the men and women in uniform who protect our communities. Tonight—they protected us.”
