Pennsylvania man arrested, charged with attempted murder after setting fire at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence in Harrisburg

A Pennsylvania man has been charged with tried homicide, terrorism and different offenses after an in a single day fireplace on the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg compelled Gov. Josh Shapiro and his household to evacuate the house, in keeping with courtroom paperwork filed in Dauphin County.

Officers mentioned Cody Balmer, 38, hopped a fence and deliberately set a fireplace on the residence early on Sunday, April 13, whereas Shapiro and his household have been house. Balmer, of Harrisburg, was charged Monday with felony murder/tried homicide, terrorism, aggravated arson and extra. He was taken into custody on Sunday within the Harrisburg space. 

Shapiro mentioned the assault was focused, however officers do not know Balmer’s particular motive but. 

“This type of violence is turning into far too frequent in our society,” Shapiro mentioned. “And I do not give a rattling if it is coming from one specific aspect or the opposite, directed at one specific social gathering or one other, or one specific individual or one other, it’s not OK, and it has to cease. We now have to be higher than this. We now have a duty to all be higher.”

Balmer’s mom, Christie Balmer, informed CBS Information her son is “mentally unwell and he went off his treatment.”

Christie Balmer mentioned she tried to get her son “picked up” final week and reached out to 4 completely different police departments however “could not get anyone to assist. So he was mentally unwell, went off his meds, and that is what occurred.”

State police mentioned crews from the Harrisburg Bureau of Hearth went to the Governor’s Residence on North Entrance Road in Dauphin County round 2 a.m. Sunday for a report of a fireplace. 

Shapiro mentioned that he and his household have been asleep on the house when the hearth broke out. The Pennsylvania governor mentioned they woke as much as bangs on the door by the Pennsylvania State Police. Shapiro, his spouse, Lori, and his kids, together with two canine and the kinfolk staying with them, evacuated the Governor’s Residence as Harrisburg fireplace crews labored to extinguish the blaze.

The Pennsylvania governor mentioned that nobody was injured, and the hearth was introduced beneath management. 

The hearth occurred after Shapiro, who’s Jewish, and his household celebrated the primary night time of Passover. Shapiro declined to name the hearth a hate crime however mentioned that the blaze will not deter him from doing his job or celebrating his religion. 

“I am not fearful,” Shapiro mentioned. “I am clearly emotional. I am nervous about my household. I would like my youngsters to be OK. After we have been within the State Eating Room final night time, gathered with the group and household and mates, we informed the story of Passover, and it is a story of going from bondage, from slavery, into freedom. I feel it is an necessary story, each actually and figuratively, to inform, and I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that somebody makes an attempt to placed on me by attacking us, as they did right here final night time. I refuse to let anybody who had evil intentions like that cease me from doing the work that I really like, cease me from being a frontrunner of this commonwealth and searching for all Pennsylvanians. I cannot be deterred in my work, and I cannot be afraid to try this work.”  

Pennsylvania State Police Troop H is investigating the hearth, which they mentioned precipitated vital harm to a portion of the house. The company is providing a $10,000 reward by way of PSP Ideas for an arrest and conviction within the investigation. 

State police encourages anybody with info associated to the hearth to name 1-800-4PA TIPS (1-800-472-8477).

The Governor’s Residence was constructed on the Susquehanna River and is described as a 29,000-square-foot Georgian-style house designed by architect George Ewing. 

The house has housed eight governors and their households, in keeping with the state’s web site.

Shapiro spoke with FBI Director Kash Patel and mentioned he promised all of the assets obligatory for the investigation. 

“Lori and I are overwhelmed by the prayers and the messages of help that we have obtained from all throughout Pennsylvania and all throughout the US,” an emotional Shapiro mentioned. “We have heard from our fellow governors and first spouses. We have heard from a number of of the previous governors of Pennsylvania. Heard from so many mates and family members. We have heard from so many caring residents of this nice commonwealth. I would like you all to know that your prayers raise us up, and on this second of darkness, we’re selecting to see mild. We recognize the sunshine that you’ve shined upon us.”

Who’s Cody Balmer, and the way did he enter the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence? 

Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens mentioned that Balmer climbed over a fence and “evaded troopers” whereas they have been trying to find him on the property earlier than the hearth.

Bivens mentioned that Balmer broke into the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence and set the hearth with a do-it-yourself incendiary machine. 

It is unclear if Balmer knew the format of the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence, however he was inside the home for lower than one minute, in keeping with Bivens.

“That is all a part of the continuing investigation. When it comes to the format, I’ll let you know that he clearly had a plan,” Bivens mentioned. “He was very methodical in his method and moved by way of it with out a variety of hurry, once more, in a really methodical, deliberate method, and carried it out, though in a really quick time frame.”

A safety assessment is at present underway to learn the way Balmer was capable of enter after which exit the property after allegedly setting the hearth. There may also be additional safety round Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence following the incident, officers mentioned.

Pennsylvania leaders reply after Governor’s Residence fireplace

Leaders from the commonwealth and surrounding areas posted statements on social media in regards to the fireplace, the Shapiro household’s security and the emergency crews’ response. 

In a assertion, Legal professional Basic Dave Sunday praised the primary responders for his or her fast actions and mentioned his workplace “stands prepared with any assets wanted to search out the offender of this mindless act of violence.”

Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge posted on social media that he and his spouse are grateful the Shapiro household made it out safely, saying, “The photographs exhibiting the harm to the house we lived in with our kids for practically eight years are heartbreaking.” One other former commonwealth chief, Gov. Mark Schweiker, referred to as the hearth, which state police are investigating as arson, a “despicable act of cowardice.”

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis posted his sentiments on social media, writing partially, “I will not speculate on motivations, however I’ll say that focusing on elected officers and their members of the family with violence is rarely acceptable.”

Democratic Speaker of the Pennsylvania Home Rep. Joanna McClinton mentioned partially, “cowardly acts of violence meant to stoke worry haven’t any place in our commonwealth.”

New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim moreover condemned the hearth, writing, “Violence can by no means be tolerated.”

Philadelphia Metropolis Council President Kenyatta Johnson mentioned in an announcement: “On behalf of all the members of Philadelphia Metropolis Council, we’re all blissful that Governor Josh Shapiro and his household are secure after the heinous act of arson.”

It is a growing story and shall be up to date.

Extra from CBS Information