In a chilling and deeply disturbing act of political violence, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were forced to evacuate the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg early Sunday morning after an alleged arsonist set the historic home ablaze while the family slept inside.
The fire erupted around 2 a.m., just hours after Shapiro shared a photo online of his family celebrating the first night of Passover. According to a statement from the Governor and confirmed by WHTM Harrisburg, the Shapiros were awakened by Pennsylvania State Police officers banging on their door, alerting them of the growing fire. Fortunately, no one was injured, and all members of the family evacuated safely, thanks to the swift response of both the State Police and the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire.
But it’s what’s behind the fire that’s prompting serious concern: authorities now believe it was arson. And with a political climate growing more volatile by the day, this suspected attack on a sitting governor’s home is sending shockwaves well beyond the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
https://twitter.com/EricLDaugh/status/1911589109258236307
“Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence,” Shapiro wrote on X. “While they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated safely. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished.”
He went on to thank the first responders, adding, “Every day, we stand with the law enforcement and first responders who run towards danger to protect our communities. Last night, they did so for our family — and Lori and I are eternally grateful.”
Last night at the Governor’s Residence, we experienced an attack not just on our family, but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
This kind of violence has become far too common in our society, and it has to stop. pic.twitter.com/5HP5JSvgfc
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2025
Photos from the scene show substantial fire damage to the historic residence, which has served as the home for eight governors since 1968. The blaze damaged a significant portion of the home, though officials have yet to release a full assessment of the destruction.
The Pennsylvania State Police are leading a joint investigation into the suspected arson, and have arrested the suspected arsonist.
This is Cody Balmer, the suspect who tried to set fire to Josh Shapiro's house.
He's 1,000%, not MAGA, so you can expect this story to drop out of the headlines by this time tomorrow pic.twitter.com/CElqjA1rWD— Vince Langman (@LangmanVince) April 13, 2025
Governor Shapiro, a rising Democratic star and rumored 2028 presidential hopeful, has not indicated whether this incident will alter any of his upcoming political plans — but it unquestionably adds to the growing sense that political discourse in America is boiling over into dangerous territory.
This wasn’t just an attack on a house. It was an attack on a sitting governor and his family — and possibly, a warning shot in a country where political tensions are reaching a fever pitch.
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