911 Call from Cody Balmer Reveals Motive Behind Arson at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's Residence

The motive behind the arson at the governor's residence has been revealed following the suspect's arrest, drawing responses from prominent political figures.

A man accused of setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor's mansion has been charged with attempted murder and several other offenses after allegedly targeting the residence due to political frustration.

The suspect, 38-year-old Cody A. Balmer, reportedly told police he was outraged by Governor Josh Shapiro's stance on the conflict in Gaza, believing it contributed to the deaths of Palestinian people.

Following the attack in Harrisburg, Balmer called 911 and identified himself, stating that Shapiro "needs to know" he would not be part of the governor's supposed plans toward Palestinians. He further expressed that his friends were being killed and described the governor as a "monster," according to police records.

"You know where to find me. I'm not hiding and I will confess to everything that I've done," Balmer reportedly said, at the end of the 911 call.

During an interview with officials after turning himself in, Balmer, who has a documented history of mental illness and a prior domestic assault case involving his family, confessed to "harboring hatred" of Shapiro. He also claimed he would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer if they had encountered one another that night.

Investigators seized several electronic devices from Balmer, including smartphones, a laptop, and an external hard drive, in search of writings referencing Shapiro, Gaza, Israel, and the ongoing Middle East conflict.

His social media presence, while erratic and at times violent, appeared to lack a consistent political ideology. Some posts leaned toward libertarian or anarchist sentiments, while others voiced anger at political figures across the spectrum.

His online rants targeted everything from the pharmaceutical industry to women and the government, yet showed little loyalty to any party or movement. The arson occurred shortly after Governor Shapiro and his family had hosted a dinner for the first night of Passover. The fire damaged two rooms of the mansion, though no one was injured.

Addressing the attack publicly for the first time at a press conference in Hershey, Shapiro called for an end to political violence, referencing recent high-profile incidents in the U.S., including an assassination attempt on U.S. President Donald Trump.

"This kind of violence has no place in our society regardless of what motivates it," he stated. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Dan Meuser, a potential Republican challenger in the upcoming 2026 gubernatorial race, expressed sympathy for Shapiro and his family.

However, he also suggested that Shapiro's legal actions against Trump and disputes over federal funding had contributed to a tense political atmosphere, saying the governor has "gotta tone it down, too."

Shapiro appeared taken aback when asked to respond to Meuser's comments, stating that leaders have a responsibility to speak and act with moral clarity and that the congressman had failed to do so.

Federal authorities, including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, are now involved in the arson investigation. While Bondi has not labeled the incident domestic terrorism, the Department of Justice has not ruled out that possibility.

Shapiro, who has generally taken a centrist approach to the Israel-Gaza war, has previously criticized the perceived antisemitism on the University of Pennsylvania's campus. He has also found fault with the leadership of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling him "a destructive force."

In the days following the incident, Shapiro and his wife have been focused on helping their four children process what happened. As a gesture of thanks, the Shapiro family is set to join celebrity chef Robert Irvine in serving lunch to the Harrisburg firefighters who responded to the blaze.

Balmer's confessions concerning his motivation behind the arson attack at Shapiro's residence follow initial reports of his arrest. The arsonist set the residence ablaze while the governor, his wife, their children, two dogs, and another family were asleep inside. Thankfully, everyone was safely evacuated.

The fire broke out around 2 a.m., prompting a rapid response from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire, which managed to extinguish the flames. Despite their efforts, the blaze caused substantial damage to the historic building.

Authorities say Balmer breached the property by climbing a fence and forcibly entering the residence before setting it alight.

According to law enforcement, he was inside for less than a minute but executed the act with notable precision, evading state troopers who were actively searching for him. Reportedly, Balmer also had "homemade incendiary devices" with him.

Although formal charges had not yet been filed at the time of his arrest, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo stated that he planned to charge Balmer with a slew of serious charges. These include attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated individual.

Federal charges may also be forthcoming. Balmer's history includes a 2016 conviction for forgery and theft by deception, and he is currently awaiting a plea hearing for a 2023 simple assault charge in a separate case.

His arrest follows a troubling trend of escalating violence against elected officials in the United States, with recent threats and attacks targeting figures such as Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Trump.

Photographs from the scene reveal extensive fire damage inside the residence. Furniture was charred, ash covered the floors, and blackened walls bore witness to the intensity of the blaze. One haunting detail included a sign reading "Passover Crafts," a reminder of the Seder dinner hosted by the Shapiros just hours before the attack.

Despite the trauma, Shapiro has remained defiant in his response, stating that he would not be deterred from fulfilling his duties or from practicing his faith. "If this individual was trying to deter me from doing my job as your governor, rest assured, I will find a way to work even harder than I was," he asserted.

He also reaffirmed his pride in his Jewish identity, noting that his family would continue to celebrate Passover proudly and publicly.

Shapiro, who was elected governor in 2022 after serving six years as state attorney general, is considered a rising figure within the Democratic Party, and has been mentioned as a potential future presidential contender.

In a statement shared on X, he described waking to loud banging on the door as state police alerted the family to the fire. He praised law enforcement and first responders for their swift action and credited them with ensuring his family's safety.

A security review is now underway to prevent similar breaches in the future, and the FBI is assisting the state police in the investigation.

The incident drew swift condemnation from political figures across the spectrum. U.S. Vice President JD Vance decried the attack as "really disgusting violence," while Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman dubbed it "truly appalling."

Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge also weighed in, sharing that the images of the damage were "heartbreaking" and emphasizing that everyone should feel safe in their homes, especially the state's first family.

Attorney General Pam Bondi expressed relief over the Shapiro family's safety and commended the law enforcement response. While Trump initially said he had no comment, the widespread bipartisan support for the Shapiros underscored the deeply troubling nature of the incident.

As the investigation continues, Shapiro made it clear that he would not allow fear to dictate his actions, stating the attack was not only on his family but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.