Pennsylvania Guv, Family Escape Arson Attack

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family narrowly escaped an arson attack at their official residence early Sunday morning.

Authorities said a suspect evaded security, set part of the mansion ablaze, and fled the scene before being arrested. He now faces multiple serious charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault.

Governor Shapiro, who is Jewish, said his family was awakened at around 2 am by police and evacuated safely from the mansion in Harrisburg, the state capital. The incident occurred during the Jewish holiday of Passover. Hours before the attack, the family had hosted a Seder dinner in the very room that was set on fire.

Officials identified the suspect as 38-year-old Cody Balmer, who jumped over the 7-foot-high security fence surrounding the property and used a homemade incendiary device to ignite the blaze. He was arrested later in the Harrisburg area and remains in custody. Police Deputy Commissioner George Bivens confirmed the suspect was found with the incendiary device in his possession.

The fire was extinguished, but, not before causing significant damage. Authorities said it badly damaged the inside of a large formal room often used for entertaining guests and art displays. The room’s west- and south-facing windows were blown out, charred glass littered the grounds, and the building’s brick façade showed extensive fire damage. Inside, a piano, furniture, and serving equipment were visibly burned.

Shapiro and his family—wife Lori and children Sophia, Jonah, Max, and Reuben—were in a different section of the mansion when the attack occurred. The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire led the efforts to contain the blaze while police focused on ensuring the family’s safety. Authorities had earlier offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest, though it’s unclear whether a tip led to Balmer’s capture.

“This type of violence is not OK. I don’t give a damn if it’s from one particular side or another. It’s not OK,” said an emotional Shapiro during a press conference outside the residence. “If he was trying to terrorize my family, my friends—we celebrated our faith proudly. No one will deter me from celebrating my faith openly and proudly,” he added.

Local prosecutor Fran Chardo confirmed the suspect will face terrorism, attempted murder, and arson charges. Authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack. The FBI and Department of Justice have pledged their full support to the ongoing investigation. Investigators have already examined the scene with search dogs and removed part of the mansion’s iron security fence as evidence.

The 29,000 sq ft Georgian-style Governor’s Residence, built in 1968, has served as the official home for eight Pennsylvania governors. Shapiro, who has been in office since 2023 after serving as the state’s attorney general, splits his time between this residence and a home in Abington, Montgomery County.

Vice President JD Vance responded to the attack on social media, writing, “Thanks be to God that Governor Shapiro and his family were unharmed in this attack. Really disgusting violence, and I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice.”

Prominent Republicans and former Pennsylvania governors also condemned the act. Former Governor Mark Schweiker called it a “despicable act of cowardice” and urged Pennsylvanians to keep the Shapiro family in their prayers. Former Governor Tom Ridge said the attack was “shocking” and described the images of damage to the home he once lived in as “heartbreaking.”

“Whoever is responsible for this attack—to both the Shapiro family and our Commonwealth—must be held to account,” Ridge said.

The arson marks the latest in a string of violent incidents targeting US political figures. Last year, former President Donald Trump survived an assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, and another plot was thwarted in Florida. In 2023, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband was seriously injured after an intruder broke into their home.

Incidentally, Shapiro is touted to be a White House contender for the Democrats in the 2028 Presidential election.

—With inputs from IANS

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