Suspect in Pa. governor’s residence arson attack pleads guilty
COURTHOUSE TONIGHT. TOM. WELL, LORI AND JERRY, THE VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT THAT WAS READ ALOUD IN THE COURTROOM TODAY. GOVERNOR SHAPIRO AND HIS WIFE SAID THAT TIME FOR THEM AT THIS POINT HAS BEEN SEPARATED INTO BEFORE THE FIRE AND AFTER THE FIRE. OBVIOUSLY AN EMOTIONAL EVENT FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILY. THE COMMENTS COME AS 38 YEAR OLD CODY BALLMER PLEADED GUILTY TO A LITANY OF CHARGES IN CONNECTION TO THIS ARSON THAT HAPPENED BACK IN APRIL, AT A TIME WHEN GOVERNOR SHAPIRO, HIS WIFE, HIS FAMILY AND OTHERS WERE SLEEPING OVER AT THE RESIDENCE FOLLOWING A PASSOVER SEDER DINNER. IT’S HARD FOR ME TO STAND BEFORE YOU TODAY AND UTTER THE WORDS ATTEMPTED MURDER WHEN IT’S YOUR OWN LIFE TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE TRIED TO KILL ME. AFTER TUESDAY’S COURT PROCEEDINGS, GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO, JOINED BY HIS WIFE LORI, SPOKE ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL TOLL FROM THE ATTACK AT THE GOVERNOR’S RESIDENCE ON THEIR FAMILY AND ATTACKS SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME PUBLICLY IN SURVEILLANCE VIDEO BROADCAST IN COURT. I KNOW THOSE VIDEOS ARE CHILLING. THEY’VE BEEN HAUNTING ME FOR MONTHS. I’VE BEEN TRYING TO UNSEE THEM FOR THE LAST SIX MONTHS. NOW, WHEN WE WALK THROUGH THE RESIDENCE, WE OFTEN THINK ABOUT THE STEPS HE TOOK AND WHERE HE ROAMED. AFTER BREAKING INSIDE THE MANSION, CODY BALLMER IS SEEN IN SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE GOING DEEPER INTO THE RESIDENCE BUT UNABLE TO BYPASS A SET OF DOORS THAT SEPARATED HIM FROM THE FIRST FAMILY AND THEIR GUESTS. HE PLEADED GUILTY TO ACTING WITH THE INTENT TO KILL DAUPHIN COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY FRAN CHARDO SAID BALLMER TOLD AUTHORITIES HE INTENDED TO BEAT THE GOVERNOR WITH A SLEDGEHAMMER IF HE ENCOUNTERED SHAPIRO. THE DEATH TOLL IN ISRAEL’S WAR IN GAZA APPEARED TO BE A MOTIVATING FACTOR, ACCORDING TO CHARDO. HE SAID, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF I AM JUST, I HAVE TO TAKE A LIFE. I’M NOT CRAZY ABOUT HAVING TO TAKE A LIFE, BUT I WILL IF IT’S BECAUSE OF THE MILLIONS ENDANGERED. BALLMER’S FAMILY SAID IN A STATEMENT READ ALOUD IN THE COURTROOM THAT THEY HAD TRIED TO GET HIM HELP FOR MENTAL ILLNESS STRUGGLES, BUT WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. IN THE DAYS LEADING UP TO THE ARSON. SHAPIRO AND HIS COMMENTS TODAY AT THE CAPITOL SAID THAT HE BELIEVES TODAY’S DECISION IN THE COURTROOM. THE GUILTY PLEA MEANS THAT POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS BEING HELD ACCOUNTABLE BY THE LAW. HE ALSO SAID HE AND HIS FAMILY ARE STILL GRAPPLING WITH THE EMOTIONAL TRAUMA FROM WHAT OCCURRED BACK IN APR
Suspect in Pa. governor’s residence arson attack pleads guilty
Updated: 6:55 PM EDT Oct 14, 2025
The man accused of setting the Pennsylvania governor’s residence on fire earlier this year pleaded guilty to all counts at the Dauphin County Courthouse this morning.Cody Balmer was sentenced to 25-50 years.Balmer was charged with:Attempted homicideAggravated arsonTerrorism The charges are connected to an arson attack on the governor’s residence in Harrisburg in April. According to investigators, Balmer said he targeted the governor’s residence because of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s views on the war in Gaza.
The man accused of setting the Pennsylvania governor’s residence on fire earlier this year pleaded guilty to all counts at the Dauphin County Courthouse this morning.
Cody Balmer was sentenced to 25-50 years.
Balmer was charged with:
Attempted homicideAggravated arsonTerrorism
The charges are connected to an arson attack on the governor’s residence in Harrisburg in April.
According to investigators, Balmer said he targeted the governor’s residence because of Gov. Josh Shapiro’s views on the war in Gaza.