The individual accused of starting a fire at the governor’s mansion in Pennsylvania reportedly called 911 after the incident. During the call, he explained that he was driven by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Cody Balmer, aged 38, is facing multiple charges including attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism, and other related offenses for allegedly setting fire to the home of Governor Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, on a Sunday.
According to a recording obtained by Fox 29, Balmer confessed during the 911 call that he ignited the fire in response to Shapiro’s actions towards the Palestinian people, citing the Governor’s Jewish background as a motivating factor.
Cody Balmer, 38, is charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary, terrorism and related offenses for allegedly setting fire to Gov. Josh Shapiro’s, D-Penn., governor’s mansion on April 13, 2025. (Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office)
Balmer added: “You all know where to find me. I’m not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I had done.”
Similar to the 911 call, a search warrant for Balmer’s devices had revealed that Balmer targeted the governor for “what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,” PennLive reported. According to the warrant, State Police Cpl. Benjamin Forsythe said the suspect targeted Shapiro over “perceived injustices to the people of Palestine.” Forsythe also pointed to the governor’s Jewish faith as a possible motive behind the attack, without elaborating.
Another warrant details Balmer’s interview with state troopers in which he allegedly admitted to “harboring hatred towards” Shapiro. Balmer also reportedly admitted to a trooper that he was responsible for the arson attack and said he planned to attack Shapiro with his hammer if he were to find the governor in the mansion.
Extensive fire damage to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion and Gov. Josh Shapiro’s residence is seen during a press conference on April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. (Matthew Hatcher/Getty Images)
Surveillance video described in a warrant allegedly shows Balmer breaking a window at the governor’s residence before throwing “an incendiary device” inside. According to the warrant, Balmer then broke another window, entered the residence and deployed another incendiary device before he “approached the dining room exit.”
The warrant also says a woman — seemingly identified as Balmer’s “ex-paramour” — said he confessed to the attack and asked her to call police to turn him in.
“This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” Shapiro said at a press briefing. “And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not okay and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
Fox News’ Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
