Cody Balmer, 38, has been arrested and charged with terrorism, attempted murder, and aggravated arson in connection with a fire set at the home of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro over the weekend. Authorities allege that Balmer intentionally set the fire while Shapiro and his family were asleep inside.
As the Tampa Free Press reported, Shapiro and his family were able to escape the residence unharmed, and first responders subsequently extinguished the fire.
Court documents released Monday revealed that Balmer admitted to “harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro,” though a specific motive remains under investigation.
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Balmer’s social media activity has revealed a complex and seemingly contradictory political profile.
In a Facebook comment from four years ago, he identified himself as a “registered socialist.” He also shared a post supporting the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, criticizing the perceived disparity in media attention and law enforcement response to the deaths of Black victims compared to others.
However, Balmer’s online presence also indicates a broader anti-establishment sentiment, expressing criticism of both Democrats and Republicans.
In 2019, he shared a post urging people to “Stop being Democratic or Republican.” Additionally, on March 1, 2021, he posted a photo stating, “Joe Biden owes me 2 grand,” and appeared to be a supporter of former presidential candidate Andrew Yang.
A post from 2022 featured an image of a Molotov cocktail accompanied by the phrase, “Be the light you want to see in the world,” a quote attributed to the anarchist page “Riot Grrrls.” Authorities say in the arrest affidavit that a Molotov cocktail was used in the arson attack on Shapiro’s home.
During police interviews, Balmer told investigators that he had intended to attack Shapiro with a hammer if he had encountered him inside the residence.
Further investigation into Balmer’s background revealed that a property he previously owned was foreclosed and sold in September for $60,000.
He also has a prior criminal record, including a 2016 guilty plea to charges of forgery and attempted theft by deception, resulting in 18 months of probation. He is scheduled to appear in court on April 16 for separate charges stemming from a January 2023 incident, including three counts of simple assault.
Governor Shapiro addressed the incident, stating, “This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other, directed at one particular party or another, or one particular person or another. It is not okay and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
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