The governor and his family safely evacuated in the middle of the night when the residence was set on fire. No one was injured.
Early Sunday morning, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were forced to evacuate the governor’s mansion when it was set on fire.
Shapiro, his wife, their four children, and guests had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover earlier in the evening.
At 2 a.m. on Sunday, state troopers pounded on the door to the residence to evacuate the Shapiro family. The fire was put out and no one was injured.
Governor Shapiro issued a statement online, saying, “Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg… Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.”
Shapiro and his family had been sleeping in another part of the residence, according to police. The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was called to put out the fire, which charred the inside of a main entertaining room and shattered several glass windows.
On Sunday at a press conference held outside the damaged south wing of the residence, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris said Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg is now in custody.
Balmer scaled the iron security fence that surrounds the residence, eluded police, and broke into the governor’s mansion. He set a fire that caused significant damage to the residence.
The fence is nearly seven feet high. Officers became aware of the breach, but Balmer was still successful in breaking into the residence. He was inside for about one minute before escaping.
Authorities said the suspect also had a homemade incendiary device and appeared to have carefully planned the attack.
Balmer was found by authorities later in the day on Sunday and will face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault.
Shapiro said the fire was lit in the same room where his family and their guests celebrated Passover with a seder on Saturday evening.
At the news conference, Shapiro said, “We don;t know the person’s specific motive yet. But we do know a few truths. First: This type of violence is not OK. 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 OK, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
Former Pennsylvania Governor Mark Schweiker, a Republican, called the attack a “despicable act of cowardice.”
Former Governor Tom Ridge, also a Republican, said photos of the damaged residence where he and his family lived for eight years were “heartbreaking”. He added, “Whoever is responsible for this attack – to both the Shapiro family and our Commonwealth – must be held to account.”
