Suspect in Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence attack pleads guilty

HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) — Cody Balmer, the man caught on video firebombing Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Harrisburg residence earlier this year, pleaded guilty Tuesday and was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in state prison.

Cody Balmer, 38, pled guilty to the attempted murder of Gov. Shapiro, aggravated arson, 22 counts of arson, one for each of the 22 victims within the residence endangered by the arson, burglary, and related offenses, according to the Dauphin County Coroner’s office for the April 13 attack, which occurred while Shapiro and his family were inside.

The district attorney’s office released video of the attack and showed the sledgehammer that Balmer said he planned to use to attack the Governor. The video shows Balmer hiding south of the residence before climbing a fence and breaking a window with the sledgehammer.

Video then shows Balmer throwing a flaming Molotov cocktail inside and breaking a second window. Inside the home, he struck two doors, including one that would’ve led to the governor and his family, and threw a second Molotov cocktail.

Officials said shortly after Balmer allegedly threw Molotov cocktails into the residence, he made a 911 call to take credit for the attack.

“Well, I don’t really have an emergency. I would like to apologize. Um, Governor Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody Balmer will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people. He needs to leave my family alone, he needs to get his eyes off of my daughters, and he needs to stop having my friends killed like he killed, had many killed two weeks ago or last week on Saturday. Our people have been put through too much by that monster. I, I only had the banquet hall to clean up. I’m tired of offering extensions of peace, I only want to be able to provide for my children. I should not be taken to these extremes, it’s not fair. I wish no harm on to anyone. But that man, that man is doing serious, serious harm to probably yourself included. And I do wish you the best sir, you all know where to find me. I’m not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I have done.”
Dauphin County 911 call

Balmer’s mother told multiple media outlets her son struggled with mental health issues, including bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but she said no one helped her when she contacted police in the days leading up to the fire. He was involved in a number of incidents in recent years and was due in court the week of the attack for a domestic violence charge.

The fire led officials to undertake an independent report on security failures at the mansion, which police said allowed Balmer to scale a fence surrounding the home and reach the windows, and on how to fix them.

Officials did not release the results from the report. However, some upgrades could be seen from outside the property, including the construction of taller fences, tree removal, new guard booths, and increased foot patrols. The state also took control of a Harrisburg street behind the home.

Repairs and upgrades at the home, which is owned by the state, have racked up more than $6 million in public funds.