Cody Balmer, 38, allegedly set Pennsylvania governor's mansion on hearth

[ad_1] The person who allegedly set hearth to the mansion of Gov. Josh Shapiro, D-Penn., and his household turned himself in, in line with the legal criticism obtained by Fox Information.

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was first recognized to police by an ex-lover after he allegedly confessed to her and "wished her to name police to show him in," the criticism mentioned. It was solely a short while later that Balmer turned himself in exterior Pennsylvania State Police headquarters, police mentioned.

Whereas being interviewed by troopers, "Balmer admitted to harboring hatred in direction of Governor Shapiro." Balmer allegedly instructed investigators "he eliminated gasoline from a garden mower and poured it into Heineken bottles he discovered at his residence."

Balmer allegedly mentioned he walked an hour to the governor's mansion "with the intention of throwing his do-it-yourself Molotov cocktails into the residence."

PENNSYLVANIA POLICE ARREST SUSPECT AFTER GOVERNOR’S MANSION SET ON FIRE WHILE GOV JOSH SHAPIRO, FAMILY SLEPT

Plates and different objects sit atop a badly-burned desk. (Commonwealth Media Companies)

Troopers say Balmer admitted to scaling a fringe fence, breaking two home windows with a hammer and throwing Molotov cocktails inside. The arson suspect allegedly admitted he was conscious it was a risk that Shapiro and others have been dwelling on the time and "it was a risk that folks may very well be injured by his actions."

Had Balmer come face-to-face with Shapiro, he allegedly mentioned, "he would have overwhelmed him along with his hammer." Following the interview, Balmer was taken to Dauphin County Jail for arraignment.

<source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/04/672/378/pennvylania-governor-mansion-criminal-complaint-clip-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/04/1344/756/pennvylania-governor-mansion-criminal-complaint-clip-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/04/931/523/pennvylania-governor-mansion-criminal-complaint-clip-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/04/1862/1046/pennvylania-governor-mansion-criminal-complaint-clip-1.jpg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"> A legal criticism launched on Monday, April 14, 2025, described the arson assault on the Pennsylvania governor's mansion. (Related Press)

Tables and chairs lay strewn about in what stays of a room that seems to have sustained the worst of the hearth. (Commonwealth Media Companies)

Police say the arson suspect was caught on safety cameras each in and out of doors the mansion "carrying a black ‘Snap-On’ jacket, black boots and carrying a bag." Troopers say they discovered the jacket, bag "and a small sledge hammer" at Balmer's dwelling.

The fireplace broke out round 2 a.m. Sunday after Shapiro, thought-about a possible presidential contender for the Democratic Get together in 2028, and his household celebrated the primary night time of the Jewish vacation of Passover.

GROUNDHOG DAY: PUNXSUTAWNEY PHIL MAKES ANNUAL WINTER WEATHER PREDICTION

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"This sort of violence is turning into far too frequent in our society," the politician mentioned. "And I do not give a rattling if it is coming from one explicit facet or the opposite, directed at one explicit get together or one other, or one explicit particular person or one other. It's not okay and it has to cease. We've to be higher than this."