A man suspected of arson admitted guilt in a Pennsylvania court on Tuesday after allegedly setting a fire at Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion in April while Shapiro and his family were inside, sleeping.
Cody Balmer, aged 36, appeared at his plea hearing at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, dressed in a dark red jumpsuit and restrained with handcuffs and ankle chains.
Balmer pleaded guilty to all charges, including attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and other related offenses.
Balmer is accused of starting the fire around 2 a.m. on April 13, shortly after Shapiro and his family had celebrated the first night of Passover. At the time of the incident, the family was asleep.
Cody Balmer, accused of setting a fire at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence, seen at Dauphin County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
In an alleged 911 call made by Balmer, he reportedly confessed to setting the fire due to Shapiro’s stance on the Palestinian people, according to audio obtained by FOX29 Philadelphia.
Fire damage inside the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion is shown, after an apparent arson attack in the early morning on Sunday, April 13, 2025. (Commonwealth Media Services)
Authorities said at the time of his arrest that “Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro.” Balmer also allegedly said he planned to attack Shapiro with his hammer if he were to find the governor in the mansion.
Cody Balmer, accused of setting a fire at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence arrives at Dauphin County Courthouse on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Shapiro addressed the arson attack shortly after it happened.
“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” Shapiro said during a press briefing. “And I don’t 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 okay and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
This is a developing news story. Please check back for updates.
