State police have arrested a suspect in connection with a case of arson at the Governor’s Mansion in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were home at the time of the fire. Troopers say that 38-year-old Cody Balmer of Harrisburg allegedly came over a security fence and evaded capture before entering the house and using what was described as a “Molotov cocktail” to set the fire around 2:00 in the morning on Sunday. Shapiro’s family and another family staying at the mansion were able to get out safely, but the fire caused significant damage to the building.
The specific motive of the attack remains unknown. Governor Shapiro said yesterday that acts like this are becoming “far too common” in our society, and he said that if it was politically motivated, it will have the opposite effect.
Balmer faces charges of attempted murder among other crimes.
