Arson and Attempted Murder Investigated After Fire at Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence

HARRISBURG, PA — State police are investigating a weekend fire at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence as an act of arson and attempted murder , after a suspect armed with incendiary devices breached the perimeter and briefly entered the historic home early Sunday morning. The blaze, which broke out at approximately 1:00 a.m., caused what officials describe as “a significant amount of damage” to the 29,000-square-foot mansion along the Susquehanna River. Governor Josh Shapiro , his wife, and their children were present at the time of the attack and were safely evacuated . No injuries were reported. Authorities arrested Cody A. Balmer , 38, of Harrisburg, in connection with the incident. While a motive has not been publicly disclosed, officials confirmed Balmer was in possession of homemade incendiary devices and managed to scale a security fence before evading on-site law enforcement for several minutes. He reportedly gained access to the interior of the residence and initiated...