UPDATE: Suspected Arsonist Who Set Fire to PA Governor’s Home Arrested

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Police have identified and arrested the man suspected of trying to burn down Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion.

38-year-old Cody Balmer of Harrisburg, PA has been taken into custody in connection to the arson attack.

You heard it here first: no matter how the media tries to spin this story in the coming days, Balmer was by no means a Trump supporter.

Here’s everything we know about him so far:

 

According to his social media pages, Balmer was a “registered socialist” and fan of Andrew Yang.

He posted anti-Trump, anti-Christian, and anti-gun memes online. He also shared a lot of anarchist content and showed support for movements like Black Lives Matter.

Bad Hombre broke it down:

Cody Balmer, the Harrisburg man accused of attempting to burn down the PA Governor’s mansion was according to him “a registered socialist.” He was neither a Republican or Democrat, and frequently shared links from anarchist accounts on Facebook. Social media posts also show that he supported Black Lives Matter, believed in free universal healthcare as a right, and was a fan of Andrew Yang. He also shared memes criticizing MAGA supporters, Christians, and the 2nd amendment.

Fox News reported:

A man was arrested after allegedly setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion as Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside early Sunday morning.

At a press conference Sunday evening, authorities named 38-year-old Cody Balmer as the suspect.

Balmer will be charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson and aggravated assault against an enumerated person, according to officials.

Pennsylvania State Police Lt. Col. George Bivens told reporters on Sunday that Balmer hopped a fence before the incident, which took place at around 2:00 a.m.

The suspect also made “homemade incendiary devices,” according to Bivens.

“He actively evaded troopers who were here to secure the residence,” the official explained. “While [police] were searching is when he attacked at the residence, [and] broke in and set the fires.”

“So that was all playing out over a period of several minutes. It was a very quick event that occurred, and, and again, troopers were actively searching for him at the time,” Bivens added.

The fire broke out overnight after Shapiro, considered a potential presidential contender for the Democratic Party in 2028, and his family celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover.

The New York Post added:

Pennsylvania State Police have arrested a Harrisburg man for the arson attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family that sent them fleeing from the governor’s residence on the first night of Passover.

Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, is expected to face charges of attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person, authorities said.

Shapiro, who is Jewish, became visibly emotional as he spoke about the 2 a.m. attack on his home as he and his family slept inside.

“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,” he said.



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