Cody Balmer was arrested in Harrisburg Sunday, facing charges including attempted murder and terrorism, police said
\n Pennsylvania
\nA 38-year-old man is in custody after allegedly setting fire to the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in Harrisburg late Saturday night, forcing the evacuation of the governor, his family, and guests.
\nCody Balmer, of no fixed address, was apprehended Sunday in the Harrisburg area and is facing a litany of charges, including attempted murder, aggravated arson, and terrorism, Pennsylvania State Police announced at a press conference Sunday.
\nAccording to investigators, Balmer was armed with homemade incendiary devices and managed to enter the state-owned residence before fleeing the scene. The blaze caused significant damage to the property, though no injuries were reported.
\nGovernor Shapiro, 51, was inside the residence at the time, along with his wife Lori, their four children, two family dogs, and another visiting family. Authorities say the fire broke out just hours after the Shapiros hosted a Passover dinner.
\nBalmer later turned himself in to authorities and reportedly expressed violent intentions toward the governor. In a sworn affidavit filed by state police on Monday, Balmer said he was \u201cangry with the governor\u201d and claimed he would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer if given the chance.
\n\u201cThis was a deliberate act meant to endanger lives,\u201d said State Police Commissioner Robert Evanchick. \u201cThanks to quick action by emergency services and the bravery of those inside, a tragedy was narrowly averted.\u201d
\nShapiro, a Democrat and former state attorney general, was elected governor in 2022. His national profile has risen in recent years, with his name floated as a potential vice-presidential pick for Kamala Harris\u2019s 2024 campaign and as a future presidential contender.
\nThe incident comes amid a rise in threats and violence targeting public officials. In recent years, political figures have been subjected to increasing hostility, including a foiled 2023 plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and two assassination attempts against former President Donald Trump in 2024.
\nBalmer remains in custody pending a court hearing. The investigation is ongoing.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Cody Balmer was arrested in Harrisburg Sunday, facing charges including attempted murder and terrorism, police said Pennsylvania A 38-year-old man is in custody after allegedly setting fire to the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in Harrisburg late Saturday night, forcing the evacuation of the governor, his family, and guests. Cody Balmer, of no […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":472543,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-472527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n