HARRISBURG, Pa. (Diya TV) — Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is calling for an end to what he describes as a disturbing wave of political violence following a brazen arson attack on the governor’s mansion that forced him and his family to flee into the night.
“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” Shapiro said Sunday. “And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other. It has to stop.”
Authorities say the attacker, 38-year-old Cody Balmer, scaled the fence of the heavily guarded Harrisburg residence early Sunday morning, smashed windows with a hammer, and threw homemade Molotov cocktails into two rooms—including the dining room where Shapiro had hosted a Passover Seder hours earlier. Security footage captured Balmer entering through a broken window, setting multiple fires, and fleeing the scene. No injuries were reported, but the residence suffered significant damage, particularly to its piano room and dining area.
Balmer turned himself in later that day, shortly after his ex-girlfriend tipped off police. He has been charged with attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson, and other offenses, and is being held without bail. According to court documents, Balmer admitted to harboring hatred toward Shapiro and told police he would have attacked the governor with a hammer had he found him.
“This could have turned into something far worse,” former Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Glenn Walp told CNN. “It could have been a tremendous tragedy.”
Shapiro’s wife, four children, their dogs, and visiting guests were all inside the residence when the attack began around 2 a.m. A state trooper assigned to the governor’s detail banged on the bedroom door to alert the family to the fire, the governor later recounted. Harrisburg firefighters were able to contain the blaze, partly thanks to a closed door that prevented flames from spreading further.
The attack has triggered a sweeping review of executive security protocols. Although the residence is under 24/7 surveillance, state police officials acknowledged Balmer evaded detection for several minutes while on the property. “He clearly had a plan,” said Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens. “He was very methodical in his approach.”
Balmer’s mother told CBS News her son has struggled with mental illness and had recently gone off his medication. She said she had tried to get police intervention days before the attack but was unsuccessful.
Balmer’s history includes a pending 2023 misdemeanor assault case involving family members and a 2016 conviction for forgery and theft. He also made social media posts expressing disdain for President Joe Biden and mocking the administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal.
The governor expressed gratitude to law enforcement and first responders but said he will not be intimidated. “If this individual was trying to deter me from doing my job as your governor, rest assured, I will find a way to work even harder than I was,” Shapiro said. “No one will deter me or my family, or any Pennsylvanian, from celebrating their faith openly and proudly.”
The incident has added to a growing list of political violence across the country. In recent years, attacks have included the 2022 hammer assault on Paul Pelosi, an attempted kidnapping plot against Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, two failed assassination attempts on Donald Trump, and a 2017 shooting that critically wounded U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise.
Law enforcement officials and experts say the attempted arson at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion underscores the urgency of addressing threats against public officials, regardless of political affiliation.
“We have to be better than this,” Shapiro said Sunday. “This isn’t just an attack on me or my family. This is an attack on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.”
