Passover terror: Man sets governor’s mansion ablaze

Police in Pennsylvania said it has arrested a man for setting fire to the governor’s mansion in the early hours of Sunday April 13, 2025.

According to reports, Police identified the suspect as 38-year-old Cody Balmer from Harrisburg.

Officers said Balmer jumped over the security fence and forced his way into the mansion.

He allegedly carried a homemade incendiary device and ignited a fire inside the building.

Governor Josh Shapiro, his wife, four children, and their guests escaped the building unharmed.

State troopers woke the governor and evacuated the family around 2 a.m.

Shapiro said they had just celebrated Passover with friends hours before the incident.

Firefighters from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded quickly and extinguished the fire.

Investigators confirmed that the fire caused major damage to the southern section of the building.

They found smashed windows, charred walls, and open doors in a room used for events and art displays.

Police sealed off the area with yellow tape and examined the scene on Sunday.

Officers led a sniffer dog around the compound as part of the investigation.

Investigators also cut off a section of the mansion’s fence and took it away for evidence.

Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo confirmed that Balmer will face multiple criminal charges.

He said the charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, attempted arson, and aggravated assault.

Police Deputy Commissioner George Bivens said officers arrested Balmer near the crime scene after a brief search.

He confirmed that the investigation remains active and more details will follow.

Governor Shapiro condemned the attack and described it as emotional and disturbing.

He said, “I refuse to be bound by the hatred of someone who attacked my family.”

Shapiro thanked the Department of Justice, the FBI, and fellow governors for offering support.

Former governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker also condemned the attack.

Ridge called the damage “heartbreaking,” while Schweiker labelled the attack “a despicable act of cowardice.”

Police have promised to prosecute the suspect and bring justice to the Shapiro family.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook