Cody Balmer is led out of court following his preliminary hearing on Monday, April 14, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (AP Photo)
Cody Balmer, a 38-year-old man, has been charged with setting fire to the mansion of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. Authorities say he broke into the residence on the night of the attack, evading police and causing significant damage. Balmer’s family shared that he had long struggled with mental illness and had received psychiatric treatment multiple times in recent years.
Balmer's brother, Dan Balmer, revealed that Cody had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Despite his condition, Cody refused to take medication. “He doesn’t believe he’s bipolar, so he doesn’t take his medicine,” said Dan. The family tried to help him, even getting him treatment at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute twice. However, Cody’s behavior continued to worsen, leading to violent outbursts and aggression.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear. Dan noted that Cody had always been politically interested but did not seem to have a strong political stance until the 2024 election. “He tried to convince everybody in the family to vote for Donald Trump,” Dan explained. Just days before the attack, Cody became aggressive toward his family, flipping over a table during a family gathering. His behavior alarmed his brother, who urged their mother to take action against his behavior.
Cody’s mother, Christie Balmer, also said that she had reached out to various places for help but received no support for her son’s mental health issues. Dan mentioned that Cody held a grudge against his wife for pushing him to receive inpatient care and believed she had cast a spell on him.
The attack caused significant damage to the governor’s mansion, with the fire forcing Shapiro and his family to evacuate. The fire started in the room where the family had celebrated Passover just hours before. The residence, built in 1968, lacked sprinklers, and the fire resulted in a significant amount of damage, with estimates running into the millions of dollars. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.
Cody Balmer walked for an hour from his home to the governor’s residence, where he attempted to harm Governor Shapiro. In a police interview, he confessed to harboring hatred toward the governor. He later turned himself in after confessing to his former partner, asking her to call the police.
Police say the attack was carefully planned. Balmer breached the property by hopping over a high security fence, entering the building, and setting the fire. He used Molotov cocktails, which were made from beer bottles filled with gasoline. He was arrested shortly after the attack.
Balmer has a history of criminal charges, including assault, theft, and forgery. He has faced financial problems in recent years, including foreclosure on his home in 2022. In addition, he is the father of at least three children, and there have been child custody disputes involving him.
This event marks another instance of political violence in the U.S. Balmer now faces multiple serious charges, including attempted homicide, terrorism, and arson.
