Pennsylvania police have detained a suspect linked to an arson attack on the official residence of Governor Josh Shapiro in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Cody Balmer, aged 38, was apprehended following the incident in which he allegedly set fire to the property while the governor and his family were inside. The arrest took place early on Sunday.
Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo confirmed that Balmer will face multiple charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person. Notably, the charge of terrorism carries a potential maximum sentence of 40 years if it involves a first-degree felony like aggravated arson.
A social media statement from Governor Shapiro detailed the evacuation of his family from the residence at around 2 a.m. during the blaze. The building incurred damage, yet fortunately, no injuries were reported. Shapiro had earlier hosted a Seder dinner that evening in celebration of Passover in the same area where the fire was later ignited.
“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” Shapiro remarked. “And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other—directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not ok, and it has to stop.”
The event echoes a concerning trend of political violence in the United States. Certain high-profile incidents include an assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Butler County, Pennsylvania, last July and another incident in September at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago, Florida home. Moreover, in 2020, multiple individuals were charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, with the plot’s leader ultimately sentenced to 16 years in prison in 2022.
Law enforcement continues to investigate the recent arson attack on Governor Shapiro’s residence. Additional updates on the incident and Balmer’s legal proceedings are anticipated.
The original report on this matter can be accessed here.