The PA Governor’s Residence (courtesy commonwealth of PA)
A Harrisburg-area man is in custody and will be charged with attempted murder following an early-morning arson fire at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence.
At a news conference on Sunday, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said that local resident Cody Balmer, 38, has been arrested and will face charges that include attempted homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault.
Chardo said that the criminal complaint had not yet been finalized but that his office will file those charges against Balmer sometime Sunday night. Conspiracy charges are not expected, he said.
PA Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks at the press conference.
At about 2 a.m. on Sunday, Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were awakened by his security detail and ushered away from the residence. The fire, which caused significant structural damage, did not affect the family’s living quarters, being contained to an area on the building’s south side that is often the site of receptions.
“Last night, we experienced an attack not just on our family but on the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania here at the Governor’s Residence,” said a visibly emotional Shapiro at the press conference.
Shapiro made a point to thank members of the Harrisburg Fire Bureau for their bravery and for quickly extinguishing the fire, and also thanked state and local law enforcement.
“Lori and I are overwhelmed by the prayers and the messages of support we have received from all across Pennsylvania and all across the United States,” he said. “Your prayers lift us up. In this moment of darkness, we are choosing to see light. We appreciate the light that you have shined upon us.”
According to state police Col. Christopher Paris, the suspect “surreptitiously” jumped the iron fence surrounding the sprawling, 29,000-square-foot residence, located at N. 2nd, Maclay and Front streets, evading security, and forcibly entered the building. He then set the fire using “homemade incendiary devices.” He was briefly inside the residence before quickly exiting and running away, Paris said.
At the press conference, officials did not detail how they identified Balmer as a suspect or the process that led to his arrest.
Officials also did not cite a motive for the alleged arson or for specifically targeting the governor. Shapiro, though, made a point in denouncing the nation’s political divisiveness and, in so doing, made an appeal for unity.
“This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” he said. “And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or another, directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this. We have a responsibility to all be better.”
Saturday night was the first night of Passover, which Shapiro and his family celebrated in the Governor’s Mansion with friends, he said.
“We celebrated our faith last night proudly and, in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover again proudly,” he said. “No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly.”
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