The man accused of setting fire to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s official residence told authorities he was motivated by the governor’s alleged intentions toward Palestinians, newly released documents reveal.
According to a search warrant obtained by PennLive, Cody Balmer called 911 after carrying out the attack early Sunday morning, identified himself by name, and made a pointed statement directed at Shapiro during the call.
Court records show that Balmer, 38, claimed that Shapiro, who had participated in a Pesach Seder just hours before the incident, needed to understand that the caller “will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.”
During the emergency call, Balmer also reportedly declared, “You all know where to find me. I’m not hiding, and I will confess to everything that I had done,” according to the warrant.
Investigators from the Pennsylvania State Police say Balmer’s actions stemmed from what he perceived as injustices against Palestinians, and that he also targeted Shapiro because of the governor’s Jewish background.
Law enforcement officials allege Balmer broke into the historic governor’s mansion around 2 a.m. by climbing a fence and smashing a window with a hammer before throwing Molotov cocktails inside while Shapiro and his family were asleep.
Balmer later told police he made the firebombs using Heineken beer bottles and gasoline taken from a lawn mower. The Shapiro family escaped unharmed, but authorities said the attack caused millions of dollars in damage to the state-owned residence.
In a disturbing detail from the complaint, Balmer allegedly told investigators that had he found the governor inside the home, he would have assaulted him with the hammer.
Search warrants were also issued for Balmer’s residence, located at his parents’ home, as well as for a storage unit and his electronic devices, PennLive reported.
Though the investigation turned up no direct evidence referencing Shapiro, Palestine, or Israel in the storage unit, authorities continue to evaluate potential motivations.
Balmer has a criminal record and was already free on bail for an assault case at the time of the firebombing, in which he allegedly stomped on his son’s broken leg and assaulted his estranged wife.
Concerned about his worsening mental health, Balmer’s relatives tried to have him hospitalized in the days leading up to the incident.
His mother, Christie Balmer, told CBS News that her son was “mentally ill and he went off his medication” shortly before carrying out the attack.
Two days prior to the firebombing, she contacted police in Penbrook Borough after her son left their house and disappeared, hoping authorities could intervene.
Police reportedly informed her they were unable to act because he hadn’t made any explicit threats to himself or others—criteria required for involuntary psychiatric commitment under Pennsylvania law.
Investigators learned through search warrants that Balmer had wrapped his phone in aluminum foil before the attack, likely in an attempt to block signals.
After the incident, Balmer voluntarily turned himself in at Pennsylvania State Police headquarters in Harrisburg on Sunday.
The next day, as he was escorted from a district courthouse, Balmer taunted media personnel by sticking out his tongue and making grotesque faces at photographers.
He now faces a slate of serious charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, burglary, and aggravated arson—offenses that together could result in up to 100 years in prison.
Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo has yet to confirm whether prosecutors will pursue ethnic intimidation charges, the state’s equivalent to a hate crime.
No injuries were reported from the fire, and Governor Shapiro issued a firm statement declaring that the attack would not deter him or his family.
“If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community, who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night, hear me on this: We celebrated our faith last night, proudly, and in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover,” Shapiro said following the attack.
{Matzav.com}