Authorities Release Additional Information About Suspect In Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence Arson Attack, Allegedly Said He Would Have “Beaten Him With His Hammer”

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Cody Balmer, 38, the suspect in the arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence, allegedly admitted he was “harboring hatred” towards the governor.

According to Fox News, Balmer allegedly told investigators “he removed gasoline from a lawn mower and poured it into Heineken bottles he found at his residence.”

Balmer also allegedly said he would have beaten Shapiro with a “hammer” if they came face-to-face.

WATCH:

Fox News reports:

Balmer allegedly said he walked an hour to the governor’s mansion “with the intention of throwing his homemade Molotov cocktails into the residence.”

Troopers say Balmer admitted to scaling a perimeter fence, breaking two windows with a hammer and throwing Molotov cocktails inside. The arson suspect allegedly admitted he was aware it was a possibility that Shapiro and others were home at the time and “it was a possibility that people could be injured by his actions.”

Had Balmer come face-to-face with Shapiro, he allegedly said, “he would have beaten him with his hammer.” Following the interview, Balmer was taken into custody.

Police say the arson suspect was caught on security cameras both in and outside the mansion “wearing a black ‘Snap-On’ jacket, black boots and carrying a bag.” Troopers say they found the jacket, bag “and a small sledge hammer” at Balmer’s home.

Per NBC News:

Balmer was caught on security cameras both within and outside the residence, officials said. He was seen wearing a black “snap-on” jacket, black boots and carrying a bag.

Video surveillance footage showed the suspect climbing over an exterior fence of Shapiro’s residence, approaching the piano room windows on the south side of the home and breaking an exterior window with a hammer, the criminal affidavit said. He then threw a Molotov cocktail inside through the broken glass. Shortly after, flames were seen in the interior of the home, the probable cause affidavit said.

Balmer then moved to an adjacent window, broke the glass and entered the home through the broken window, the affidavit said. Once inside, he deployed a second incendiary device in the dining room that spurred another fire.

The affidavit states that Balmer then moved toward the dining room exit. Surveillance footage showed him wearing two different colored gloves — one orange and one yellow. He was seen kicking the dining room door open and exiting the residence. He left the property in the same direction he entered, climbing back over the perimeter fence, running through a parking lot and then fleeing the residence in a southeast direction, the affidavit said.

Investigators found two broken glass beer bottles containing gasoline in the dining room of the residence.

Investigators also collected videos from privately owned security cameras and found that the suspect had fled east on Peffer Street. A sweep of Peffer Street led investigators to locate the gloves that matched the suspect’s in a trash can. The gloves had a “strong smell of gasoline emanating from them,” the criminal affidavit said.



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