A Harrisburg man has confessed to firebombing Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s mansion while the governor and his family were inside.
Cody Balmer, 38, turned himself in after allegedly telling an ex-girlfriend about the attack and asking her to call police. According to investigators, Balmer admitted to targeting Shapiro out of hatred, using homemade Molotov cocktails made from lawn mower gas and Heineken bottles.
He told police he scaled the fence, broke windows with a hammer, and threw the firebombs inside… fully aware the family could be home. He also claimed he would have attacked Shapiro if they had crossed paths.
The fire broke out around 2 a.m., just hours after the Shapiro family celebrated the first night of Passover.
“This kind of violence is becoming far too common,” Shapiro said. “It is not okay… and it must stop.”
