A man has been charged after he was accused of jumping an iron fence into Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence in Harrisburg early Sunday, breaking into his home and starting multiple fires with Molotov cocktails while the family was inside, officials said.
The fire, which occurred hours after the Shapiros hosted a Passover dinner, forced the family to evacuate the scorched home after they were startled awake by loud bangs on their door, Shapiro told reporters Sunday. The home sustained significant damage.
Cody A. Balmer, 38, was charged with criminal attempt-criminal homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and other related offenses, according to an affidavit filed by the Dauphin County Pennsylvania District Attorney's office. At a news conference Sunday, District Attorney Fran Chardo said Balmer may also face federal charges.
Balmer, who was taken into custody in Harrisburg on Sunday afternoon, admitted his actions to troopers during an interview, prosecutors say. The criminal affidavit filed Monday morning says he added he would have beaten Shapiro with a hammer had he confronted him.
"Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro," the affidavit states without any additional detail.
The district attorney's office said in a statement Monday that Balmer surveilled the home before "unlawfully entering the grounds over a wall in the early morning hours."
"He approached one of the windows on the south side of the residence," the statement said. "Using a hammer he had brought, he quickly broke the window after multiple blows. He then threw a Molotov cocktail into the residence igniting a substantial fire within."
Prosecutors say Balmer then entered the home and started "two more fires with two other Molotov cocktails" before he fled. The actions, which were caught on video, forced Shapiro and his family to evacuate the home.
"Video surveillance showed that the perpetrator was wearing a 'Snap-On' jacket with distinctive shoulder patches," the statement said.
Shapiro said he spoke Sunday afternoon with FBI Director Kash Patel, who offered federal government resources.
Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens said officials are conducting an arson investigation, as well as an attempted homicide and aggravated arson investigation. Bivens added that he does not expect Balmer to be charged with conspiracy.
Bivens said the man acted quickly, noting that he was inside the home for less than a minute and that the entire event happened over the course of "a number of minutes."
Authorities are investigating how long the man was on the property before he set the fire, Bivens added, saying authorities "have an idea" about the time frame.
Bivens said officials believe he had a plan, noting how quickly he was in and out of the residence and calling him "methodical in his approach."
The break-in and the setting of the fire happened while troopers were looking for the man, Bivens said.
The man "actively evaded troopers who were here to secure the residence, even while they were searching for him on the property," Bivens noted. A security review is underway, he said.
Balmer has faced criminal charges in Pennsylvania before, court records show. He pleaded guilty to forgery and theft in 2015 and again to forgery in 2016. He was also charged with assault in 2023 in a case that is still open.
The public defender representing Balmer in the assault case did not immediately respond to a request for comment Sunday evening. Attempts to reach the Dauphin County Public Defender's Office for comment Sunday evening were unsuccessful.
In a statement on social media, Shapiro wrote that his family woke up at 2 a.m. Sunday to banging on the door from state police. He added that he and his wife, Lori, were “eternally grateful” for authorities who helped evacuate the family.
“Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” Shapiro wrote. “Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities.”
Shapiro thanked law enforcement, who he said at Sunday's news conference were at his residence in "seconds." Bivens also commended the Harrisburg Fire Department, who he said was "instrumental" in preventing loss of life in the fire.
Shapiro also called for an end to violence that he said is "becoming far too common in our society."
"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," Shapiro said.
Vice President JD Vance said on X that he was thankful the Shapiros were unharmed and called the incident a "Really disgusting act of violence," adding that he hopes the perpetrator is "brought swiftly to justice."
Asked Sunday night by reporters aboard Air Force One whether he had any reaction to the arson, President Donald Trump said he had "just heard about it" and would "have to look into it."
Photos of the fire response showed smoke billowing out from one of the residence’s windows, blackening the exterior trim above the window with what appeared to be a layer of soot.
A narrow look inside the home through the window showed substantial damage to the interior. There was a piece of furniture by the window that appeared completely charred by the blaze.
The couple have four children together: Sophia, Jonah, Max and Reuben. Sophia and Jonah are legal adults, while Max and Rueben are minors.
It’s unclear whether either of Shapiro’s adult children were home. The governor said he was not going to discuss which of his family members were in the home at the time of the arson attack.
Shapiro offered Passover well-wishes just hours before the attack. Shapiro, who is Jewish, shared a photo of his Seder table on social media.
“From the Shapiro family’s Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!” he wrote Saturday evening on X.
"No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly," Shapiro said in his comments later Sunday.
Beth Beene, who lives down the street from the residence, told NBC News that she heard fire trucks in the middle of the night but went back to bed. She couldn’t believe it when she learned news of the arson investigation at Shapiro’s home.
“I couldn’t believe how extensive the damage was,” Beene said. “I thought it was something that was caught, put out ... but I was shocked to see windows broken out.”
Shapiro and his wife are good neighbors, Beene said, adding that they always make time to chat as they walk around the neighborhood. She said the incident was especially troubling given the timing of the Passover holiday.
“It chokes me up, because I, you know, have many family and friends who are Jewish, and the fact that this happened on high religious holiday, specifically with our Jewish governor, is really scary,” Beene said.
State police described the probe as a multiagency investigation and are offering a $10,000 reward for information.
“While the investigation is ongoing, the State Police is prepared to say at this time that this was an act of arson,” the department said.
Shapiro is a Democrat who was elected to lead Pennsylvania in 2022 after having served as the state’s attorney general for several years. He was reportedly among the leading candidates considered for a vice presidential run alongside Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential race.
