On April 13, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were evacuated from the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg after a fire broke out around 2 a.m. The fire, later confirmed as arson, caused significant damage to the south side of the residence, particularly in a large entertainment room.
Authorities arrested 38-year-old Cody Balmer of Harrisburg in connection with the incident. He faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, attempted arson, and aggravated assault. The motive behind the attack remains under investigation.
The fire occurred on the first night of Passover, shortly after Governor Shapiro had shared a photo of his family’s Seder table on social media. While some speculate about a possible antisemitic motive, authorities have not confirmed any specific reasons for the attack.
Lt. Col. George Bivens commented on the attack saying, “We look at all aspects, personnel, technical, 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.”
Governor Shapiro, a Democrat and potential 2028 presidential candidate, expressed gratitude to law enforcement and first responders for their swift actions. He emphasized that such acts of violence are unacceptable and reaffirmed his commitment to serving the people of Pennsylvania.
The Governor’s Residence, built in 1968, has faced significant damage only once before during Hurricane Agnes in 1972. The extent of the restoration effort needed for the current damage remains uncertain.
