HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania, USA (AP) — A man who, according to authorities, climbed over an iron security fence in the middle of the night, evaded police, and entered the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion where he set a fire, is in police custody at a hospital following a non-related medical event, state police reported on Monday.
Cody Balmer, 38, told police that he had planned to hit Governor Josh Shapiro with a small mallet if he found him, according to court documents. He was being treated at the hospital, which, according to the police, “is not related to this incident or his arrest.”
Balmer’s mother told The Associated Press on Monday that she had tried in recent days to get him help for mental health problems, but “no one wanted to help.” She said her son had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. AP was unable to verify that information.
“I was not taking his medicine, and that’s all I want to say,” commented Christie Balmer, speaking at the family home in Harrisburg.
The fire caused considerable damage and forced Shapiro, his family, and guests to evacuate the house early Sunday morning. The man, captured later that day, faces charges including attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault, authorities said.
Balmer had walked an hour from his house to the governor’s residence, and during the police interview, “Balmer admitted to having hatred towards Governor Shapiro,” according to a police affidavit, although it was not indicated why.
Shapiro commented that he, his wife, their four children, two dogs, and other relatives had celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover at the residence on Saturday and were awakened by state police officers knocking on their doors around 2:00 in the morning on Sunday. They left the place and the firefighters extinguished the fire, authorities reported. No one was injured.
In a press conference on Sunday night in front of the severely damaged south wing of the governor’s residence, Pennsylvania State Police Colonel Christopher Paris identified the detained man as Balmer.
Balmer turned himself in after confessing to his “former partner,” according to the sworn statement. Authorities had initially said he was being transferred to Dauphin County Prison, but did not say if he has a lawyer. Calls to people believed to be family members were not answered or returned on Sunday. A recent residence registered in Harrisburg was closed in 2022.
Shapiro says he is not intimidated
Paris emphasized that the investigation is ongoing. Authorities did not reveal the man’s motive, but Shapiro, considered a possible candidate for the White House by the Democratic Party in 2028, said he is not intimidated.
Shapiro added that if Balmer was trying to prevent him from doing his job, then he would work even harder, and he added that Balmer would not stop him from practicing his faith.
“When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover and the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt to freedom,” Shapiro said. “I refuse to be trapped by the slavery that someone tries to impose on us by attacking us as they did here last night. I refuse to let someone with evil intentions like that stop me from doing the work that I love.”
The police said the suspect jumped the security fence and forced his way into the residence. Authorities stated that the suspect jumped an almost 2.1 meters high iron security fence surrounding the property, evaded the agents who noticed the breach, and forcibly entered the residence before setting it on fire. He used beer bottles filled with gasoline to make Molotov cocktails, according to documents.
Lieutenant Colonel George Bivens said that Balmer seemed to have carefully planned the attack. He was inside the residence for about a minute before escaping, Bivens said.
Bivens added that Balmer was later arrested in the area.
Balmer has faced criminal charges in the last decade, such as simple assault, robbery, and forgery, according to online court records.
“We have to be better than this”
Shapiro said the fire started in the same room where he and his family celebrated Passover with members of the Harrisburg Jewish community on Saturday night.
“We still do not know the specific motive of the person,” Shapiro said at the press conference. “But we do know some truths. First: This type of violence is not okay. This type of violence is becoming too common in our society. And I don’t care if it comes from one side or the other, directed at one party or another, or at one person or another. It is not okay, and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
The fire severely damaged the interior of the large hall, which is often used to host crowds and organize art exhibitions. The large windows facing west and south had lost all their glass panes, broken glass covered the paths, and the doors were left open with signs of charring. The window frames and the bricks around the doors and windows were blackened and charred.
Inside there was charred piano, tables, walls, metal buffet plates, and other objects through the broken windows and doors blackened by the fire.