Arson Attack at Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion

Cody A. Balmer, 38, has been charged with aggravated arson after setting fire to the Governor’s mansion in Pennsylvania. Governor Josh Shapiro was home sleeping along with family including his wife, four children, an additional family member, his two dogs and staff members when Balmer broke into the mansion around 2 a.m. Sunday.

Balmer is seen on surveillance video scaling the fence, which surrounds the mansion, used a hammer to break a window, and throwing a Molotov cocktail through the broken glass. Balmer is also seen moving to another window, breaking the glass, entering the mansion where he set off a second incendiary device, which sparked another fire, then seen leaving the mansion in the same manner he entered it.

Balmer later turned himself in to the Pennsylvania State Police Department after he confessed to an ex-partner that he was the one who started the fires. Balmer also admitted to “harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro.”

Balmer is not only being charged with aggravated arson, but attempted criminal homicide, burglary and terrorism to name a few.

No one was injured in this incident.

By - FZ