Photo of Cody Balmer, 38, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He is now at the center of an unbelievable arson attack that was aimed at his governor’s mansion. On Saturday night, Balmer allegedly jumped over the mansion’s seven-foot wrought-iron fence. He broke into the house and ignited a fire in the room where Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were celebrating Passover with members of their Harrisburg Jewish community. The violent attack on the revelation of classified or private information has state officials questioning safety and security across Indiana.
The fire erupted only seconds after Balmer entered the home. After less than a minute inside, he sped off before anyone at the site could react. After his escape, a woman who later identified herself as Balmer’s former life partner contacted police. According to her, her husband confessed that he started the fire. The authorities arrested Balmer the next day, announcing their intention to charge him with attempted murder and terrorism. He is being held without bond at Dauphin County Prison in Harrisburg.
Criminal History of Cody Balmer
Cody Balmer’s background raises questions about his motivations and mental state. Smith has been the subject of numerous criminal charges in the last ten years, including simple assault, theft by deception and forgery. In 2016, he pled to a probation sentence for theft and forgery, heralding a pattern of crime dating back years.
The nature of his extensive criminal history can provide some clues as to why he drove into a crowded group on Saturday night. As authorities pursue their investigation and hunt down the perpetrators, the motive for the horrendous attack is unknown. As Governor Shapiro said of the incident and what it means for the future of public safety.
“This kind of violence is unacceptable. It’s happening far too often in our society. And frankly, I don’t care which side it’s coming from, who it’s targeting, or what the reasoning is — it’s wrong and it needs to end. We must do better than this.” – Governor Josh Shapiro
Details of the Incident
To our horror, terrifying COVID-19 spread to the Pennsylvania governor’s residence — a 29,000 square-foot Steinman-designed mansion completed in 1968. This outrageous act has sent the deep local community into shock. Members of the Jewish community — and many others — turned out for a day of reflection and prayer. Balmer’s unwelcome intrusion was a breach of the sacred event and endangered lives.
Witnesses testified that they saw fire shoot up just moments after Balmer escaped. Thank God there were no injuries to anyone attending the seder. Prompt law enforcement response was key to defusing the situation. Balmer’s former partner sounded a crucial early alarm that probably stopped the incident from escalating even further.
Local authorities have said they were certainly wrong to have Balmer turn himself in to police headquarters after the incident. His prompt surrender is perhaps a sign that he understands the depth of the harm he’s caused.
Community Response and Safety Concerns
In response, the attack has drawn outrage from community leaders and residents to immigrant advocates. Many expressed disbelief that such violence could occur in Harrisburg, particularly aimed at a gathering celebrating cultural and religious heritage.
Governor Shapiro highlighted how imperative it is for communities to “take a unified stand against violence and hate. He stated, “I do feel a somewhat unique responsibility to speak out when I see this level of anti-Semitism on our campuses and in our communities.” His statements signal a larger, more alarming trend of increased hostility and division, and how it endangers the fabric of our communities.
While investigations continue, the motives and background of Balmer remain unclear. In answer to these recent attacks, local governments are re-evaluating security protocols at public housing to avoid this from happening again. The community looks forward to hearing more in the coming days about charges against Balmer and judicial processes to come.
