Pennsylvania officials arrested a 38-year-old Harrisburg man who said he set fire to the governor's mansion while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family went to sleep and evacuated them before the flames seriously damaged parts of the building.
The man identified as 38-year-old Cody Ballmer was able to avoid the state troopers after jumping over the fence and breaking into the building, officials said, adding that he used a homemade agitator. He fled the scene and was arrested in Harrisburg on Sunday afternoon, officials said at a press conference.
Ballmer is currently in custody and is expected to be charged with attempted murder, arson and terrorism. Law enforcement officials said they could not provide information about their motives.
Governor Shapiro, a Democrat who won national celebrity while on a short list of Kamala Harris' running buddies last year, said in a news briefing outside the mansion that was injured in the fire, the FBI was supporting the investigation. The smell of smoke remained in the air as he spoke, and there was a visible blackened broken window behind him.
Shapiro described the family's ordeal, recalling the moment when a state trooper banged his door just after 2am, awakened him, his wife and children, and rushed to safety. He said the attack was “targeted.”
“Last night we had an attack not only in our family but throughout Pennsylvania,” Shapiro said. “I want you to know that your prayers are lifting us up, and in this dark moment we choose to see the light.”
Last summer, Shapiro, who helped oversee the law enforcement response to Butler, Pennsylvania, attempted assassination of President Trump, denounced Vitriol in American politics.
“This type of violence is not okay,” Shapiro said. “I don't care if it comes from a certain aspect. That's not alright.”
During the briefing, Shapiro said he spoke with FBI Director Kash Patel a few hours ago. “He has committed all the resources of the federal government,” Shapiro said, adding that he thanked the FBI and President Patel for their support.
State police said in a statement that the fire “had caused significant damage to some of the residence.”
Shapiro noted that the attack occurred on the first night of Passover, one of the sacred Jewish holidays, where other members of the local Jewish community were celebrating it with him and his family in the state's dining halls. “No one will discourage me, my family, and Pennsylvanians from celebrating their faith openly or proudly,” he said.
Law enforcement officers described the chaotic scene at the mansion early in the morning. When state police found a property security breach, they were searching for an intruder. But within minutes, Ballmer was able to break in, set fire and escape onto the same fence that he scaled to enter, officials said.
Brian Flores, 37, is a neighbor who lives across the street from the residence and said he woke up just after 2am to see a big response from police and firefighters. He said “I woke up to the sirens and flashing lights,” adding that the incident appears to be in control at that point.
Shapiro, who served as the state's attorney general for six years before being elected governor in 2022, has been a target of threats at least once. According to a Pennsylvania Police report, in November 2023, police arrested a man who said he had sent him a threatening email. It was unclear on Sunday whether the man was charged in connection with the case.
According to the state government, the governor's residence is a 29,000-square-foot Georgian-style building on the Susquehanna River, completed in 1968. Its landscaping grounds occupy a complete block of about a mile and a half from the State Capitol complex.
The public can visit the residence on the first floor, displaying art and artifacts.
Recent and prominent incidents of violence directed at politicians have helped to promote fear and anxiety among Americans, polls show. Before last year's presidential election, around four in ten voters said they were very or very concerned about violent attempts to challenge the outcome. Last summer, attempts to assassinate Trump took place just over 200 miles west of Harrisburg.
Other serious incidents included a foil plot to lure Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 and a home break-in and attack at Nancy Pelosi's home in 2023, seriously injured Paul, the husband of the former House Speaker.
Although American politics has become increasingly intense and deeply polarized in recent years, research shows that, despite several episodes causing widespread attention and vigilance, American extremist violence has actually diminished. Scholars studying this issue say that the political situation has not become so broad and violent.
Campbell Robertson, Amanda Holpucci Allison Beck contributed to the report. Susan C. Beach Contributed research.
