In the aftermath of an act of arson against Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s executive residence in the state capital of Harrisburg, police are slowly releasing details about Cody Balmer, 38, the suspect in the attack.
At around 2 a.m. Sunday, Shapiro and his family were awakened by firefighters responding to a blaze in the governor’s residence and were forced to evacuate.
They sustained no injuries in the arson attack, which occurred hours after the family celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover.
According to the Dauphin County District Attorney’s office, the perpetrator used a hammer to break one of the mansion’s windows, before throwing a lit Molotov cocktail into the residence.
He then entered the residence through another window and “started two more fires with two other Molotov cocktails.”
Court documents reveal other disturbing details. Police say that an “ex-paramour” of Balmer contacted them after the attack to say that Balmer was responsible for it.
Authorities arrested Balmer on Sunday evening after he turned himself in and admitted to the acts, the Dauphin County DA’s office announced.
Balmer was charged with “attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, and related offenses.”
Police said that Balmer “admitted to harboring hatred towards” Shapiro and described how he is said to have made Molotov cocktails out of Heineken beer bottles and gasoline from a lawn mower.
He admitted to being aware of the harm the attack could cause to Shapiro and his family in the residence, the police criminal complaint says.
Balmer, when asked what he would have done if he had encountered Shapiro, said, “he would have beaten him with his hammer,” according to the complaint.
Police went to Balmer’s residence and confiscated a “small sledgehammer,” as well as a black bag and jacket that matched the items seen on the suspect in security camera footage.
A Facebook account that appears to belong to Balmer shows a long history of complaints against public figures, such as former President Joe Biden. The account’s biography section describes him as a “mechanic offering convenient mobile service and roadside assistance.”
His posts include a June 2022 crochet design of a Molotov cocktail beneath the words “Be the light you want to see in the world.”
The account has also posted memes criticizing Biden’s botched withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, criticizing the actions of wealthy philanthropists, and numerous memes involving weapons and violence.
One repost from January 2021 criticizes Christians who are “more committed to the Second Amendment than they are to the Second Commandment.”
Another cryptic post from January 2021, says “RIP Joe Biden … Whoops that’s in may, #notmypresidenteither.”
A December 2020 repost criticizes American military aggression in the Middle East.
Although the exact motives behind the attack are unclear, Shapiro has called attention to the fact that it occurred shortly after he and his family celebrated Passover.
“No one will deter me or my family or any Pennsylvanian from celebrating their faith openly and proudly,” said Shapiro, addressing the possibility of an antisemitic motive.
Shapiro also said that he does not “give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not OK. And it has to stop.”
