Cody Balmer, who set fire to Gov. Josh Shapiro's mansion, pleads guilty [View all]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Published Oct. 14, 2025, 9:34 a.m. ET


HARRISBURG — Cody Balmer, the man accused of setting the governor’s mansion ablaze in an attempt on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s life this spring, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and related crimes on Tuesday morning and was sentenced to 25 to 50 in prison.

Balmer, 38, admitted his guilt in the overnight attack on Shapiro’s official residence just hours after the governor and his family had celebrated Passover there. Police said Balmer walked for more than an hour from his Harrisburg home to the downtown estate around 2 a.m., scaled a fence and lit several fires using incendiary devices before fleeing the property undetected by security. The blaze broke out as the governor and his family slept. They were awakened by state troopers and escaped unharmed with the two family dogs.

The fire did significant damage to the property that required more than $7 million for repairs. Balmer was arrested the next afternoon after turning himself in. He carried a hammer and beer bottles filled with gasoline on the evening of the attack, police said, and told investigators he harbored a “hatred” for Shapiro and that he would have attacked the Democratic governor had he encountered him.

The crime drew national attention and some officials, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, questioned whether Balmer had antisemitic motivations because he set the fire on the Jewish holiday at the home of a governor who has visibly embraced his religion. In the days after the blaze, an emotional Shapiro condemned the violence and said the arson would not deter him from practicing his faith.

Read more: https://www.inquirer.com/crime/cody-balmer-arson-guilty-plea-josh-shapiro-mansion-fire-20251014.html