The man charged with setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion staged the attack due to his belief that Governor Josh Shapiro’s stance on the war in Gaza was contributing to the deaths of Palestinians, according to a police search warrant made public on Wednesday.
Following the arson, the suspect, Cody A. Balmer, identified himself during a 911 call, stating that Mr. Shapiro, who is Jewish, “needs to know that he ‘will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.’” The warrant also noted Balmer expressed a desire to stop what he perceived as harm to his friends, referring to Mr. Shapiro as a “monster.”
Balmer, who has a history of mental illness and was previously charged with assaulting family members, concluded the call by stating, “you know where to find me. I’m not hiding and I will confess to everything that I’ve done.”
In a police interview after turning himself in, Balmer reportedly admitted to harboring hatred for Mr. Shapiro and indicated he would have physically attacked him had he encountered him on the night of the incident, according to an affidavit.
The Pennsylvania State Police executed a search warrant, seizing four smartphones, a laptop, and an external hard drive for examination by investigators.
Balmer, 38, faces charges of attempted murder and other offenses related to the attack, which resulted in significant damage to two rooms of the mansion. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Prior to the attack, Mr. Shapiro had hosted a dinner for friends to celebrate the first night of Passover, a significant Jewish holiday.