# Arson at Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005 "2025-04-13T18:29:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/1 "2025-04-13T18:29:13Z")
Don’t know a lot yet. It could be a hate crime. It was the first day of Passover and Governor Josh Shapiro and his family are Jewish. Perhaps it’s something personal. A disgruntled Constituent. More information should come out in the next few days. > **[Police say they are investigating an arson attack at the Pennsylvania...](https://apnews.com/article/josh-shapiro-arson-police-fire-pennsylvania-governor-2d17ec60c48f7d4d15123dda60c88699)** > > Police say they evacuated Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family from the governor’s official residence after someone set fire to the building. > [@](#): > > The fire broke out overnight on the first night of the Jewish holiday of [Passover](https://apnews.com/article/passover-jewish-holiday-israel-hamas-antisemitism-6bb47e4b095e9bca4304f9b6e11f18d3), which Shapiro and his family had celebrated at the governor’s official residence in the state capital of Harrisburg. Pennsylvania State Police said in a statement that, while the investigation was ongoing, they were “prepared to say at this time that this was an act of arson. > **[Police search for arsonist after overnight fire at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/gov-josh-shapiro-residence-arson-investigation-rcna201044)** > > Shapiro said his family was evacuated from the official Harrisburg residence at 2 a.m. and that no one was injured. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2025, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/2 "2025-04-13T22:35:56Z")
That’s a quick reaction by the police. I’m glad he was arrested before doing anything else. Link [Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro home fire: Suspect arrested after blaze](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/04/13/gov-josh-shapiro-fire/83071116007/) > [@](#): > > Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, was arrested on April 13, Col. Christopher Paris, Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, said during a news conference. Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo said his office is preparing a criminal complaint to charge Balmer. > > “This is not of record yet, but the charges will include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person,” Chardo said at the news conference. "These are all very serious charges. As with any charges, the defendant is presumed innocent. [https://www.abc27.com/local-news/harrisburg/update-on-governors-residence-fire/](https://www.abc27.com/local-news/harrisburg/update-on-governors-residence-fire/) > [@](#): > > “This type of violence is not okay,” Shapiro said in the press conference outside the residence. Fire damage was plainly visible behind the podium. “I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, one particular person or another, it is not okay, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.” ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/3 "2025-04-14T05:17:39Z")
Here is what the fire damage looks like: > **[Governor Shapiro, Pennsylvania State Police Provided Update on Act of Arson...](https://pacast.com/m?p=27601)** > > Governor Shapiro, Pennsylvania State Police Provided Update on Act of Arson at the Pennsylvania Governor's Residence ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/4 "2025-04-14T08:56:10Z")
Someone’s looked at his Facebook page and(assuming it’s the same Cody) he seems to be sort of very far-left anarchic-communism stuff? Basically “I hate government and I do what I want” talk. This is second-hand, but he’s not MAGA. Not that that’s any better if it’s political vs. religious. In a very cynical vein, does this hurt, help, or have no effect on a Shapiro Pres run? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/5 "2025-04-14T13:16:00Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > In a very cynical vein, does this hurt, help, or have no effect on a Shapiro Pres run? Just a guess but very little in 2025 will effect a presidential run. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/6 "2025-04-14T13:16:48Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > In a very cynical vein, does this hurt, help, or have no effect on a Shapiro Pres run? If he’s in the Presidential race, he gets Secret Service protection, doesn’t he? Because the PSP protection detail isn’t looking so sharp right now; hopped a fence & started THREE fires via Molotov cocktails. By the time the prez run really heats up, this guy will already have been convicted & sentenced; at most, it’ll be a positive blip for him. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/7 "2025-04-14T15:28:08Z")
> [@PastTense](#): > > Here is what the fire damage looks like: OMG! 😱 That is terrifying. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/8 "2025-04-14T15:42:49Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@PastTense](#): > > > > Here is what the fire damage looks like: - > > OMG! 😱 That is terrifying. Same. I hadn’t read the stories beyond the headlines and assumed he scorched an outside wall. How the _hell_ did he get inside!? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/9 "2025-04-14T16:06:05Z")
Perhaps the police shouldn’t take much credit for _the apprehension_ of the suspect. This could have been much worse. Balmer could have found the Governor’s living quarters with a little effort. The article says he climbed a fence and broke windows to get in. There is security footage of his actions. I’m thankful no one got hurt. Link [Cody Balmer was "harboring hatred" toward Shapiro before setting fire at Governor's Residence, documents say - CBS Philadelphia](https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/cody-balmer-governors-residence-fire-josh-shapiro-harrisburg/) > [@](#): > > According to charging documents, during their investigation, Pennsylvania State Police were contacted by a woman who described Balmer as her “ex-paramour” and told officers that Balmer was responsible for setting the fire. When asked why she believed Balmer was responsible, the woman told investigators that he confessed to her and wanted her to turn him in to police, the complaint said. > > A short time later, Balmer went to the Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters on Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg and, according to charging documents, told a trooper he set the fire and wanted to turn himself in. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/10 "2025-04-14T16:45:46Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > How the _hell_ did he get inside!? I’m not sure he got inside the residence. I believe he hopped the fence, broke some windows & tossed a couple of Molotov cocktails inside. Yes, I realize that’s almost picking nits & whomever was in charge of his security detail is either unemployed or at least reassigned ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/11 "2025-04-14T18:55:21Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I’m not sure he got inside the residence. I believe he hopped the fence, broke some windows & tossed a couple of Molotov cocktails inside. The article does say he was inside for a few moments. I realize that climbing up walls is a cakewalk for you…… From the same article: “Enterline added that if a door separating the main state dining room, which is where the Shapiros celebrated Passover, hadn’t been closed at the time of the fire, the flames would have spread further into the residence and put the family at greater risk.” Why include that detail? ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/12 "2025-04-14T19:27:09Z")
> [@Love\_Rhombus](#): > > From the same article: “Enterline added that if a door separating the main state dining room, which is where the Shapiros celebrated Passover, hadn’t been closed at the time of the fire, the flames would have spread further into the residence and put the family at greater risk.” Why include that detail? Probably the single biggest thing you can do to slow a fire is to compartmentalize it. A wide open door will give it more O2 to grow & potentially push the smoke/gasses/flames into additional rooms/floors quicker. I’ve watched videos as part of training; some of which were intentionally set as a learning exercise with all sorts of heat sensors & camera in the room/building to record data. A fire in a tight room/house will become O2 starved & die down; however, one the FD opens a door or breaks a window there’s an inrush of O2 & the fire quickly flares up again & it’s off to the races. I’m sure that line in the Fire Marshall’s report will be used in the prosecution of the Attempted Murder charge(s). ‘See, if they hadn’t closed the door, this might be a murder charge instead of just attempted murder’ ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2025, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/13 "2025-04-14T19:40:49Z")
Same reason why buildings have automatic closures when a fire alarm goes off. The building I work in has several to block otherwise long hallways. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/14 "2025-04-15T22:57:35Z")
> **[Man charged with arson at Pennsylvania governor's home struggled with mental...](https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-governor-mansion-fire-motive-cody-balmer-734827f6c29d7b3064af442e729d10d7)** > > Investigators are working to uncover the motive behind an arson fire over the weekend at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion, the latest act of political violence in the U.S. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/15 "2025-04-15T23:19:15Z")
That door slowed the fire down enough to enable the Shapiro family to escape before it spread. The pictures are not pleasant to look at, that’s for sure. Like the kid in Wisconsin who murdered his parents, it sounds like this is a much more complex story than it appeared on the surface. > **[Teen killed parents as part of Trump assassination plot, says FBI](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62g8d47z86o)** > > The suspect's phone allegedly contains material about a neo-Nazi group and praise for Adolf Hitler. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/16 "2025-04-17T23:02:07Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > If he’s in the Presidential race, he gets Secret Service protection, doesn’t he? Not under Trump, he won’t. Doesn’t matter what the laws say. ---
**Author:** ![DemonTree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/demontree/32/8646_2.png) [@DemonTree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DemonTree)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/17 "2025-04-18T12:44:13Z")
Apparently his motive was Palestine: > **[Man charged in fire at Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion voiced...](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/16/arson-charge-josh-shapiro-pennsylvania-governor-mansion)** > > Cody Balmer faces terror and arson charges after fire and 911 call voicing pro-Palestinian views He had bipolar disorder and had stopped taking his meds, and his family repeatedly tried to get him help in the days before the attack. Time to make it easier treat people involuntarily? > **[Shapiro arson suspect’s family repeatedly tried to get help in the days...](https://edition.cnn.com/2025/04/15/politics/shapiro-arson-suspect-sought-help-authorities-invs/index.html)** > > Cody Balmer’s family said before the attack, he acted erratically, including by chewing on batteries and disappearing for days. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/18 "2025-04-18T14:25:01Z")
Gov Shapiro describes the attack. How the intruder got to the mansion. I didn’t realize Cody Balmer was carrying a hammer and used it to break windows.He told police that he wanted to beat the governor with it. > **[Exclusive: Gov. Shapiro gives sit-down interview from residence after arson...](https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/exclusive-gov-shapiro-interview-arson-attack-120919258)** > > Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro sits down with Good Morning America co-anchor George Stephanopoulos for an exclusive interview after the arson at his official residence. ---
**Author:** ![We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@We\_re\_wolves\_not\_werewolves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/We_re_wolves_not_werewolves)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/19 "2025-04-18T14:26:28Z")
This was a pro-Palestinian terror attack, simple as that ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005/20 "2025-04-18T14:31:29Z")
No, it was an anti-Israel terror attack. This attack, whether successful or not, would in no way have had any benefit whatsoever for Palestine, and is likely to just make things worse for the Palestinians. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arson-at-pennsylvania-governors-mansion/1017005.md?page=2)