Closed door helped save Gov. Shapiro and his family in arson attack on their home that caused millions in damage: officials
A closed door in a stairwell of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s mansion may have saved him and his family after a perp allegedly broke in while they were sleeping and set the place on fire, officials said.
Cody Balmer, 38, is accused of using homemade Molotov cocktails to set Shapiro’s official residence alight early Sunday in the state capital of Harrisburg — torching an entire room and causing millions of dollars in damage.
Harrisburg Fire Chief Brian Enterline said that if the door in question had been left open, there’s no telling what might have unfolded.
If the door in question had been left open, Enterline said, “it would have definitely put the governor at even greater risk.”
Shapiro, his wife, their four kids and another family were sleeping when the suspect was caught on surveillance cameras allegedly scaling an iron security fence, smashing a window of the mansion’s piano room with a hammer and tossing a Molotov cocktail inside.
He then smashed his way inside and ignited the dining room before fleeing, cops said.
As the flames took hold, the governor said, he was awakened by a state trooper banging on his bedroom door around 2 a.m.
Shapiro, his family, pets and guests were all rushed to safety.
The fire left significant damage to the grand room — charring walls, tables, buffet serving dishes, plates and a piano.
Enterline has estimated the damage could be in the millions.
Balmer turned himself in to cops in the aftermath, allegedly confessing that he “harbored hatred” against the Democratic governor and would have beaten him with a hammer if he’d encountered him inside.
He was slapped with a slew of charges, including attempted murder, arson, burglary and terrorism intended to coerce “the conduct of a government.”
The suspect was denied bail during his initial court hearing on Monday.
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