Following an earlier day fire at the official residence of Pennsylvania government Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania authorities detained 38-year-old Cody Balmer on suspicion of attempted murder, violence, and aggravated fire. The governor and his family were inside the Harrisburg, Georgian-style castle at the time the fire started in a distinct section of the building, around 2:00 am local time on Sunday.
State police claimed the fire left” a considerable amount of damage” but was properly put out. No reported wounds.
A state trooper credited Governor Shapiro, a well-known Democrat who was being considered a possible vice-presidential pull in 2024, with alerting his resting home and ensuring their healthy evacuation. ” Thank God no one was hurt and the blaze was extinguished,” he said in a statement.
Shapiro after addressed the increase in political violence outside the residence, expressing his condemnation of the rise in political violence with a burnt and cracked window behind him. ” This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” he said,” and I don’t care if it’s coming from one particular side or the other… it’s not okay, and it has to stop.”
Balmer allegedly carried “homemade explosive devices” inside the home while scaling a fence to enter the house. Before starting the fire, he allegedly evaded legislation police for several minutes.
A criminal complaint is being prepared, according to city counsel Fran Chardo, who confirmed Balmer’s arrest and confirmed that he was in prison. The offenses will also include aggravated assault on an “enumerated man,” a legal term that frequently refers to law enforcement or public officials.
After defeating a far-right member supported by former US President Donald Trump, Shapiro, 51, won the governor’s election in 2022.
