Cody A. Balmer in his arrest photo. Credit: Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office
The man accused of setting fire to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence in April while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were inside has waived his right to a preliminary hearing and is headed to trial.
Cody A. Balmer, 38, of Penbrook Borough, waived the hearing and will have his case forwarded to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, according to a report by WGAL-TV 8. He faces 50 charges, including attempted homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, and terrorism.
Balmer broke a window at the residence in Harrisburg on April 13, threw a Molotov cocktail inside, and then broke another window to enter the building. He then deployed a second device in the dining hall before climbing back over a fence and fleeing, according to an affidavit.
Security video captured Balmer leaving the scene as the state-owned residence burned.
Pennsylvania State Police fire marshals said they found Heineken beer bottles filled with gasoline at the scene. Troopers also found mismatched gloves smelling of gasoline near the residence that matched those seen on Balmer in the security video.
Balmer’s former paramour told state police he confessed to her and wanted her to alert law enforcement.
Balmer later surrendered to a trooper outside state police headquarter, and admitted to the crime.
During questioning, Balmer told investigators he removed gasoline from a lawnmower and filled the beer bottles at his home. He said he was aware his actions could have harmed people inside and would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer if he had encountered him, according to court papers.
Troopers said Balmer had a small sledgehammer with him during the incident.
The fire caused “significant” damage to the 29,000-square-foot residence.
Shapiro said he and his family were unharmed and were awakened by the state police protective detail. They were safely evacuated.
Firefighters from the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire extinguished the blaze.
Balmer reportedly told a 9-1-1 dispatcher he wanted Shapiro, who is Jewish, to “stop having my friends killed.” He also stated he didn’t want to be part of “what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.”
Balmer’s Facebook page showed several anti-establishment posts, including that former President Joe Biden owed him money, and he shared a dislike for Biden supporters. He also shared posts from conservative political influencers but mocked supporters of President Donald Trump and encouraged people to “stop being Democratic or Republican.”
“He clearly had a plan. He was very methodical in his approach, and moved through it without a lot of hurry,” state police Lt. Col. George Bivens said hours after the attack. “It all happened very quickly and he was back out.”
According to Spotlight PA, Balmer’s mother had previously contacted police to request an involuntary mental health commitment after he stopped taking psychiatric medications.
Balmer is being prosecuted by the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office and is represented by the Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office.
