Cody Balmer set the Pennsylvania governor's residence on fire Sunday morning using gasoline-filled Heineken beer bottles and planned to beat Gov. Josh Shapiro with a hammer, according to an arrest affidavit released this morning.
Balmer, 38, of Penbrook, "admitted to harboring hatred toward Governor Shapiro," the affidavit says.
The suspect quickly fled the North Front Street property, however, and state troopers worked quickly to evacuate Shapiro and his family from the burning building.
Police say an ex-lover called police to say Balmer confessed the attack to her and wanted to turn himself in, which he did a short time later.
About 9:30 a.m. today, state police said Balmer was taken to a hospital to undergo treatment for "a medical event not connected to this incident or his arrest." Police said they would transfer him to the Dauphin County Prison for arraignment upon his release.
Attack followed Passover Seder
Shapiro was visibly shaken and appeared to choke back tears Sunday afternoon as he discussed his family's evacuation from the burning governor's mansion hours earlier.
"I want you all to know that your prayers lift us up. And in in this moment of darkness we are choosing to see light. And we appreciate the light that you have shined upon us," Shapiro said of well-wishers during a press conference outside the mansion's fire-ravaged South Wing in Harrisburg.
Balmer allegedly climbed over a security fence, broke into the residence carrying the incendiary devices and set the fire, in what state police called "an act of arson."
The blaze took place a few hours after Shapiro, who is Jewish, celebrated a Passover Seder dinner inside the residence with family, friends, and guests.
Photos shared by the governor's office revealed extensive damage to the rooms where Saturday night's Seder had been held.
Among the burned furniture and fixtures were reminders of the event, including a sign inviting families to enjoy "kid-friendly Passover crafts."
"If this individual was trying to deter me from doing my job as your governor, rest assured I will find a way to work even harder than I was just yesterday, for the good people of Pennsylvania," Shapiro said.
"If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night, hear me on this: We celebrated our faith last night proudly. And in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover — again, proudly," the governor added.
"No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly," Shapiro said.
PSP: One suspect in quick attack
Col. Christopher Paris, the state police commissioner, said earlier Sunday that Balmer was believed to be the lone suspect.
"What I do feel confident in saying at this point is that we don't anticipate any charges for conspiracy, but again ... we are still very much inside the first 24 hours," Paris said.
The attack occurred over a very brief period of time — "several minutes," Paris said.
Balmer was charged with attempted homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, recklessly endangering another person, terrorism, aggravated assault, and loitering and prowling.
Asked if he thought the case could be prosecuted as a hate crime, Shapiro said that is a question for the DA or the federal government.
Dauphin County District Attorney Francis T. Chardo said the FBI is involved in the investigation, and it is possible Balmer could face federal charges in addition to state charges.
Shapiro did say he had been in contact with FBI Director Kash Patel, who was "kind and courteous" and "promised all of the resources of the federal government."
Shapiro family awakened at 2 a.m.
Shapiro said he and his family were asleep upstairs in the residence at about 2 a.m. when "one of the state troopers assigned to our detail banged on our door, woke us up, and told us we had an emergency and needed to leave immediately."
"Together, we secured all of our children, our two dogs, our family that was staying with us, and the troopers safely evacuated us from the governor's residence," Shapiro said.
Paris praised troopers who were swift to evacuate the governor and his family, and Harrisburg firefighters who quickly battled the blaze.
He said PSP "will be conducting a multi-faceted review in terms of security measures and the exact timeline of how it happened."
"But I do feel very confident in saying that certain steps of due diligence were taken by our people, and we are in their debt for getting the governor and his family — immediate and extended — out of the house," Paris said.
Bivens: PSP was searching for intruder
PSP Lt. Col. George Bivens said Balmer "came over a fence" and "actively evaded troopers who were here to secure the residence, even while they were searching for him on the property."
"We knew there had been a breach on the property, and we were searching to determine what had occurred," he said.
"While they were searching is when he attacked at the residence, broke in, and set the fires," Bivens said.
"That was all playing out over a period of several minutes. It was very quick ..." Bivens said, adding that Balmer was armed with "some homemade incendiary devices."
Balmer exited the property same way he entered and was captured later Sunday in the Harrisburg area, Bivens said.
Details of attack
Balmer's attack on the building was captured on surveillance video, the affidavit states.
Footage shows Balmer, wearing a black "Snap-On" jacket, scaling a fence and carrying a bag, police said.
He can then be seen approaching the piano room windows on the south side of the mansion, breaking one of the windows, and throwing the device inside.
Footage shows flames breaking out inside as Balmer breaks another window and enters the building. Once inside, he hurled another incendiary device into the dining room, creating a second fire.
Balmer then kicks open the dining room door and leaves the mansion. Footage shows him wearing mismatched gloves — one orange and one yellow — police say.
The video shows him leaving the property over the same fence, running away through a parking lot.
Physical evidence discovered
Police said they found the broken Heineken beer bottles in the mansion's dining room. Private surveillance video reviewed by police showed Balmer fleeing east on Peffer Street. Investigators said they found gloves matching those in the video in a trash container on Peffer Street, and they smelled of gasoline.
Troopers said Balmer's ex-girlfriend called them on Sunday to say he had confessed to setting the fire and wanted to turn himself in. He did so a short time later outside the department's headquarters on Elmerton Avenue.
Balmer told investigators of his hatred for Shapiro. He said he filled the beer bottles with gasoline from his lawnmower and walked for about an hour from his home on North Boas Street to the governor's residence, the affidavit states.
Maps show the distance to be about 3.5 miles.
Balmer admitted to climbing the fence and breaking two windows with a hammer.
"Balmer was asked specifically what he would have done if Governor Shapiro had found him inside of his residence, to which he advised he would have beaten him with his hammer," the affidavit states.
Troopers said they retrieved a "Snap-On" jacket, black bag, and a small sledgehammer — identical to those seen in the video — from Balmer's home.
Following his interview with police Balmer was taken to the Dauphin County Prison for arraignment, police said.
Security review underway
Bivens said a security review "is underway to ensure that we don't have a repeat of a situation like this."
"We look at all aspects — personnel, technological surveillance equipment, security equipment, all of that will be reviewed. And we will do our best to ensure that the governor and his family are safe in this residence," Bivens said.
Shapiro declined to say how many members of his family were in the house at the time of the fire, but "they're doing OK now."
"Obviously when you get woken up at two in the morning with a banging on the door by brave Pennsylvania State Police telling you you immediately have to evacuate, that's jarring, especially for children," Shapiro said.
The governor said he and wife Lori were heartened by messages of support from all over the state and nation, as well as from fellow governors and former governors.
"I will continue to pour every ounce of my being into this work. I'm going to do my best to be your governor and, right now, to be a good husband and father to my family, who are obviously traumatized by what occurred here last night," Shapiro said.
