Suspect arrested for torching home of Jewish Democrat governor

A man has been arrested for allegedly breaking into Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s home and lighting it on fire.

Authorities say the suspect snuck into the governor’s home while he and his family were sleeping and started the fire, prompting Shapiro, his wife Lori, four children, two dogs, and other family members to evacuate.

The man suspected of plotting and carrying out the alleged arson was identified as 38-year-old Cody Balmer, who reportedly turned himself in to police. He is accused of targeting the Jewish politician’s home just hours after he hosted a Passover dinner for his family. According to the affidavit, the man reportedly admitted to harboring “hatred” for the governor and planned to beat him with a hammer if he had come across Shapiro in his own home.

Balmer was somehow able to evade authorities actively searching for him, scaling an iron security fence and breaking windows with a hammer before entering the home and using handmade Molotov cocktails to start the blaze. He also admitted to putting gasoline siphoned from a lawnmower into beer bottles, according to the affidavit. Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police called the alleged arson a “methodical” attack on the governor.

Luckily, everyone was safely evacuated from the home and the blaze was safely extinguished. When asked if he knew there was a possibility Shapiro and other family members could have been in the home at the time of the fire, Balmer reportedly answered affirmatively.

“Balmer has faced criminal charges over the past decade, including simple assault, theft, and forgery, according to online court records. He drew a sentence of probation after guilty pleas to theft and forgery counts. Simple assault charges from 2023 appeared unresolved,” reported WBAL-TV.

The suspect is currently being charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault, and was actually due back in court on a separate case involving a 2023 simple assault charge.

Vice President JD Vance condemned the attack as “really disgusting violence,” while Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman called it “truly appalling.” Shapiro thanked everyone who had offered support and encouragement, claiming he will not be “deterred” by the violence.

“I want you all to know that your prayers lift us up, and in this moment of darkness we are choosing to see light,” he said in an emotional statement.

“This type of violence is not OK,” he added. “We have to be better than this.”

“If this individual was trying to deter me from doing my job as your governor, rest assured, I will find a way to work even harder than I was.”

Writer/Columnist

Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to BizPac Review.

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