A jaw-dropping photo has emerged of a suspected terrorist accused of torching Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion.
Cody Balmer, 38, is expected to face charges of attempted murder, terrorism and aggravated arson after Shapiro’s home was set alight overnight as he and his family slept.
An extraordinary photo of Balmer clutching a gun and pointing it down the lens of his camera has now emerged, DailyMail.com can reveal.
In the photo, Balmer is relaxing on a couch with the gun covering half his face.
Balmer’s social media profile is littered with political commentary and criticism about American institutions.
The 38-year-old Harrisburg father had made chilling posts about former president Joe Biden and his supporters, arguing that they ‘shouldn’t exist’ and even suggesting Biden was going to be killed.
‘Biden supporters shouldn’t exist,’ he wrote in one post dated January 2021.
‘RIP Joe Biden… whoops that’s in May. #notmypresident,’ another read.
An extraordinary photo of Balmer clutching a gun and pointing it down the lens of his camera has now emerged, DailyMail.com can reveal
Extraordinary photos show the sheer extent of the damage to Shapiro’s home
While the toll of the attack could have been far worse, the confronting images show the charred remnants of once stunning rooms
Balmer had separately noted during Biden’s presidential term that gas was cheaper under President Donald Trump.
Now, authorities in Pennsylvania are preparing a criminal complaint to level serious charges against him.
He allegedly scaled a fence to break into the grounds of the property, carrying with him homemade incendiary devices.
Extraordinary photos show the sheer extent of the damage to Shapiro’s home.
Fire crews were dispatched to Democrat Shapiro’s home in Harrisburg around 2am Sunday, the town’s Fire Chief Brian Enterline said.
Everyone inside the home was in a separate part of the residence when the flames broke out and were able to evacuate safely.
While the toll of the attack could have been far worse, the confronting images show the charred remnants of once stunning rooms.
The living areas and common spaces have been left blackened with ash and soot with what’s left of the furniture scattered haphazardly around the rooms.
A significant portion of the estate was damaged from the fire, which broke out just hours after Shapiro posted a picture of his family celebrating Passover.
It is unclear if this was an act of hate targeting Shapiro over his politics or religion.
State police Lt. Col. George Bivens said Balmer ‘clearly had a plan’ going into the late-night attack.
‘He was very methodical in his approach, and moved through it without a lot of hurry,’ Bivens said.
Cody Balmer, 38, is expected to face charges of attempted murder, terrorism and aggravated arson after Shapiro’s home was set alight overnight as he and his family slept
Balmer’s social media profile also offers an insight into his state of mind. The 38-year-old Harrisburg father had made chilling posts about former president Joe Biden and his supporters, arguing that they ‘shouldn’t exist’ and even suggesting Biden was going to be killed
Shapiro, his wife Lori and their four children (pictured) were in the home at the time of the blaze
Shapiro, who shares four children with his wife Lori, shared a post to X about the startling incident.
‘Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
‘The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police.
‘Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished. Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family – and Lori and I are eternally grateful to them for keeping us safe.’
Photos showed damage caused to the mansion as thick plumes of black smoke were seen flowing out of the home.
The fire also left portions of the home charred from the flames as firefighters were seen trying to calm the blaze.
Investigators are offering a $10,000 for any tips that lead to the arsonist responsible.
Shapiro and his wife share four children together – Sophia, Jonah, Max and Reuben.
Sophie and Jonah are legal adults, while Max and Reuben are minors. It is unclear if the two eldest were in the home at the time of the blaze.
Pictured: A burnt out couch inside Shapiro’s mansion
Governor Shapiro’s mansion was torched to a crisp
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion (pictured) was torched by an arsonist overnight
The investigation into the terrifying blaze remains ongoing, but authorities have confirmed it was caused by an act of arson
Just before the fire started, Shapiro, who is Jewish, offered Passover wishes on X, saying: ‘From the Shapiro family’s Seder table to yours, happy Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!’
The 29,000 square-foot mansion was built in 1968 and has served as the residence to eight governors and their families prior to Shapiro.
The property has flooded several times in the past, including during Hurricane Agnes in 1972 when then-Governor Milton Shapp resided there with his wife Muriel.
It then underwent ‘extensive repairs’ before flooding again in 2011 during Tropical Storm Lee.
Shapiro has served as the Governor of Pennsylvania since 2023. He previously worked as the attorney general for the Keystone State from 2017-2023.
He is viewed as a possible contender for the 2028 presidential race.
Many had hoped he would have been Kamala Harris’ running mate in the previous election.
