Pennsylvania Governor Mansion Set On Fire, Suspect Arrested

A suspect has been arrested in connection to setting on fire the Pennsylvania Governor’s mansion.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s house around 2 a.m. on Sunday.

In a post on X, Shapiro wrote, “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.”

He added, “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.”

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was arrested in connection to the arson.

Last night at the Governor’s Residence, we experienced an attack not just on our family, but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

This kind of violence has become far too common in our society, and it has to stop. pic.twitter.com/5HP5JSvgfc

— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2025

Here’s the aftermath:

Photos from inside Pennsylvania Governor's mansion after police say an arsonist set fire to the house while Governor Shapiro and his family slept inside around 2am.
Cody Balmer of Harrisburg was arrested — planned charges include attempted murder and terrorism. pic.twitter.com/GWEfC3B8qH

— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) April 13, 2025

Per CNN:

A 38-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an arson at the Pennsylvania governor’s house as the governor and his family slept inside.

Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to the fire around 2 a.m. and extinguished it, but the building was left with “a significant amount of damage,” according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Gov. Josh Shapiro said that he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family were safely evacuated.

Cody Balmer of Harrisburg was arrested Sunday, Col. Christopher Paris, state police commissioner, said at an afternoon news conference. CNN has reached out to an attorney representing Balmer in another case.

Balmer hasn’t been charged, but Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said he plans to charge him with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault against an enumerated person. The suspect could also face federal charges, Chardo said.

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He had some “homemade incendiary devices,” Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police said.

Photos of the aftermath show a portion of the building devastated by the fire, with furniture destroyed and the floor covered in ash. Images also show the walls and ceiling blackened and feature some remnants of the Passover dinner the governor hosted Saturday night – like a “Passover Crafts” sign.

This psycho made it all the way inside the governor’s mansion in Pennsylvania with an incendiary device. He is accused of setting Governor Josh Shapiro’s home on fire with the family sleeping inside.

How did he make it past security?! pic.twitter.com/Y1stmUK5vE

— Marina Medvin 🇺🇸 (@MarinaMedvin) April 13, 2025

Here’s what AP reported:

A man scaled an iron security fence in the middle of the night, eluded police and broke into the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion where he set a fire that left significant damage and forced Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family and guests to evacuate the building, authorities said Sunday.

The man, captured later in the day, will face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault, authorities said.

Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children, two dogs and another family had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors at about 2 a.m. Sunday. They fled and the fire was extinguished, officials said. No one was injured.

At a Sunday evening news conference in front of the badly damaged south wing of the governor’s residence, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris identified the man in custody as Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg.

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