Arsonist's Mental State, Motivations In Attack On Gov.'s Home: Latest Updates

HARRISBURG, PA — New details have emerged in the arson attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro's mansion over the weekend, as the investigation into exactly how and why the attack occurred continues.

The suspect, 38-year-old Harrisburg resident Cody Balmer was released from the hospital Monday night after an undisclosed "medical event" which officials said had nothing to do with the arson or his arrest.

Balmer turned himself in to police on Sunday, just hours after the attack. He has been charged with arson, attempted murder, terrorism, and related counts.

The latest on his potential motivations

Balmer’s mother told The Associated Press late Monday that her son had bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and that she had tried to get him help.

“He wasn’t taking his medicine, and that’s all I want to say,” Christie Balmer told the AP.

Balmer was arraigned Monday night after his hospital release, where he was denied bail. A preliminary hearing was set for April 23 at 11 a.m.

The extent to which the incident was a hate crime remains unknown. Balmer professed "hatred" for Gov. Shapiro, and he told police when he was arrested that if had encountered the governor during the arson, he would have beat him with his hammer.

Political relations and response from officials

While Balmer's social media history includes numerous anti-Joe Biden memes and gifs, there are also posts critical of President Trump. A review of his pages reveal no definitive political leaning one way or the other.

President Trump told gathered press late on Monday that he did not think the attacker supported anybody.

“The attacker was not a fan of Trump, I understand, just from what I read and from what I’ve been told," Trump said. "The attacker basically wasn’t a fan of anybody, he was probably just a whack job,”

"Thanks be to God that Governor Shapiro and his family were unharmed in this attack," Vice President JD Vance wrote. "Really disgusting violence, and I hope whoever did it is brought swiftly to justice."

Following up on the terrorism charges, Gov. Josh Shapiro called the incident an attack on the entire state, and related it to recent incidents of political-related violence around the country.

"We experienced an attack not just on our family, but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," he said. "This kind of violence has become far too common in our society, and it has to stop."

The arson

Balmer meticulously plotted out his attack, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

Before the attack on Saturday night, he used lawnmower gasoline to fill several bottles of Heineken and make homemade Molotov cocktail devices. He then stuffed them all pre-prepared inside a black bag, where he could easily access them during the arson, police said.

Balmer climbed over a fence to get onto the property, and then threw one of the Heinekens through the glass of the piano room window, the affidavit states.

The fire began instantly. Balmer entered the home and used the bottles to start multiple blazes in the dining room and other rooms throughout the house.

Police added that he moved methodically and without rushing through the mansion, staying inside for less than a minute. He was on the property for several minutes after the attack, eluding police who were guarding the home and then escaping.

Gov. Shapiro, his wife Lori Shapiro, other members of the family, and numerous staff were all inside the home at the time of the attack. Shapiro later said that they woke up to banging on the door from state police at around 2 a.m. Sunday.

The fire likely incurred several millions of dollars in damage to the home, officials estimate.

See full coverage in the arson attack on the governor's mansion:

• Arsonist At Gov. Shapiro's Mansion Has Been Hospitalized: State Police
• Attempted Murder At Gov. Shapiro's Residence: What We Know