Cody Balmer referenced Palestine & Governor Shapiro in 911 call after Governor’s Residence fire; court documents show

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Cody Balmer, the man accused of setting fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s Harrisburg residence, made references to Palestine in a call shortly after the fire, according to court records released Wednesday.

According to an affidavit filed by Pennsylvania State Police, Balmer allegedly called Dauphin County 911 on April 13 around 2:50 a.m., nearly an hour after the fire at the Governor’s Residence.

During the 911 dispatch call, State Police say Balmer identified himself and related that Shapiro needs to know that he “…will not take part in his plans for whatever he wants to do to the Palestinian people.”

The affidavit shows Balmer continued to say he needs to stop having friends killed and “…our people have been put through too much by that monster” and that “all he has is a banquet hall to clean up.”

Balmer also told officials he would confess to the arson attack on the Governor’s Residence and “admitted to harboring hatred toward Governor Shapiro.”

Investigators seized four smartphones, a laptop, and an external hard drive as part of the investigation. A search warrant was filed for writing that contains references to Josh Shapiro, Gaza, Palestine, or the conflict in Gaza. Investigators noted a storage locker in Pennbrook Borough as part of the search warrant, but noted nothing was found.

Balmer also submitted to a DNA swab.

Balmer is now being held without bail on charges including attempted homicide and arson.

Balmer’s family has said he was previously diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, however, police would not assist them with getting Balmer help. Penbrook Police confirmed Tuesday that Balmer’s mother had contacted them but that the situation did not meet the standards for emergency psychiatric evaluation.

Officials say Balmer scaled a fence at the Governor’s Residence, smashed a window, and tossed a lit beer bottle filled with gasoline inside. He then entered through a second window and threw another Molotov Cocktail inside the dining room.

Shapiro’s family celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday Passover hours before the fire in the dining room.

Shapiro was sleeping inside the residence at the time and was awoken by State Police and firefighters around 2 a.m. Everyone inside the home evacuated safely.

Clean up at the residence is underway with Harriburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline estimating the damage to be in the millions of dollars. A state museum official told abc27 that some artifacts inside the home would be removed after sustaining heat and smoke damage.