Suspect Charged With Terrorism
On April 13, Pennsylvania State Police announced that they had arrested 38-year-old Cody Balmer of Harrisburg. They later announced that he had been charged with several crimes, including “attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person,” according to the New York Post.
At around 2:00 on the morning of April 13, Balmer jumped the fence at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion, then set fire to the home while Shapiro and his wife and children were asleep inside. Police have reported that Balmer also planned to beat Shapiro with a hammer if he had run into him during the arson attack.
Luckily, Shapiro and his family were rescued safely by the police.
Photos have gone viral on social media of the devastation that the arson attack caused on the governor’s mansion:
Balmer reportedly turned himself in to Pennsylvania police after calling an “ex-paramour” to confess to his crimes and to ask her to call the police, according to an affidavit in the case.
The document also notes that Balmer confessed to the attack, stating that he climbed the perimeter fence at Shapiro’s residence, broke two windows using a hammer, and then threw Molotov cocktails into the building. He also acknowledged that he understood that people could have been harmed because of his crimes.
“He advised on the date in question he removed gasoline from a lawn mower and poured it into Heineken Bottles he found at his residence,” the police affidavit states. “Balmer advised he walked for approximately one hour from his residence to the Governor’s Residence with the intention of throwing his homemade Molotov cocktails into the residence.”
“Balmer was asked specifically what he would have done if Governor Shapiro found him inside of his residence, to which he advised he would have beaten him with his hammer,” the affidavit continues.
Upon searching the arsonist’s home, police found a small sledgehammer and clothing matching the outfit that was worn by the man seen on surveillance video of the crime.
Shapiro has since spoken out in response to the attack, giving an update on the afternoon of April 13 outside of the damaged portion of his residence.
“Gloria and I are overwhelmed by the prayers and the messages of support that we’ve received from all across Pennsylvania and all across the United States,” the Pennsylvania governor said, choking up a bit. “We’ve heard from our fellow governors and first spouses. We’ve heard from several of the former governors of Pennsylvania. We’ve heard from so many friends and loved ones, and we’ve heard from so many caring citizens of this great commonwealth.”
“I want you all to know that your prayers lift us up,” Shapiro added. “And in this moment of darkness, we are choosing to see light. We appreciate the light that you have shined upon us.”
The Pennsylvania Democrat then noted that he would allow law enforcement to be the ones to give details about the attack, but did give some details himself, stating: “We do know that this attack was targeted. We don’t know the person’s specific motive yet, but we do know a few truths. First, this type of violence is not okay. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society, 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 okay, and it has to stop.”
“If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community, who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night, hear me on this: we celebrated our faith last night, proudly and in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover,” Shapiro continued.
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