The man accused of firebombing the official residence of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro hours after he and his family celebrated the first night of Passover has pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges.
Cody Allen Balmer, 38, also entered pleas on charges of terrorism, aggravated arson, burglary, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and loitering in connection with the April attack that left the Democratic governor’s mansion with charred walls and millions of dollars in damage.
Under a plea deal, he was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.
In the early hours of April 13, Balmer scaled the fence outside the Harrisburg mansion, shattered a window with a hammer and used homemade Molotov cocktails to set a wing of the house on fire, police said at the time.
In a 911 call about an hour after starting the fire, Balmer admitted he planned the attack because of Shapiro’s views on the Israel-Hamas war, saying he “will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.”
The governor and his family had to be woken up and evacuated, but no one was injured. Balmer was charged with 21 counts of reckless endangerment due to there being so many other people home, his family, guests and state troopers.
The fire was set hours after Shapiro’s family celebrated the Jewish holiday of Passover with a Seder at the residence, though Balmer told the Associated Press in a May letter that Shapiro’s faith had not played a role in his decision.
“He can be Jewish, Muslim, or a purple people eater for all I care as long as he leaves me and mine alone,” Balmer wrote.
Balmer admitted to “haboring hatred” towards Shapiro and said he would’ve beaten him with a hammer if he saw him during the break-in, police said.
With reporting by the Associated Press.
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