The man who allegedly firebombed Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s official residence is expected to plead guilty Tuesday.
Cody Balmer was charged with attempted murder, aggravated arson and other crimes after the April arson attack. It was not immediately clear what crimes he would plead guilty to.
Booking photo of arson suspect Cody Balmer.
Dauphin County District Attorney
Balmer allegedly jumped a fence at the governor’s mansion in Harrisburg, broke windows and threw Molotov cocktails inside that he made from beer and gasoline bottles, police said.
The attack occurred in the middle of the night, hours after the Shapiro family hosted more than two dozen people for the first night of Passover. The family was home at the time, but no one was injured.
This image provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Commonwealth Media Services via AP
This image provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Commonwealth Media Services via AP
Balmer called 911, identified himself and confessed, allegedly telling the operator that Shapiro “needs to know that ‘he will not participate in his plans of what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.'”
Balmer allegedly told police he would have attacked Shapiro with a hammer if he had encountered the governor inside the residence, according to court documents.
Cody Balmer, accused of setting a fire at the official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, arrives at the Dauphin County Courthouse on October 14, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Matt Slocum/AP
This image provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows damage after a fire at the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion while Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept inside, April 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Commonwealth Media Services via AP
Balmer, 38, is a mechanic who may have been experiencing financial and mental health problems, sources previously told ABC News.
