'Depraved act': Arsonist set fire to Pa. governor's mansion during Passover causing 'significant damage'

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

Updated April 13, 2025, 1:17 p.m. ET | Published April 13, 2025, 11:13 a.m. ET


An arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion in Harrisburg early Sunday morning causing “a significant amount of damage,” according to state police. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were uninjured. Shapiro, who is Jewish, posted a photo Saturday evening of his family’s Passover dinner at the governor’s residence.

Pennsylvania State Police are still investigating, but said in a news release they believe it to be an act of arson and are offering a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible. “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 in Harrisburg,” Shapiro posted on X Sunday morning.

“Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished,” Shapiro added. “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 to them for keeping us safe.” Asked if the fire was being investigated as a hate crime against Shapiro and his family, state police said in an email: “All avenues will be explored.”

Several elected officials condemned the arson attack on the governor’s mansion, where Shapiro resides when not at his home in Abington Township. Former Gov. Tom Ridge, a Republican and the nation’s first secretary of Homeland Security, said in a statement that whoever is responsible for the attack on Shapiro, and thus the state, “must be held to account.”

Read more: https://www.inquirer.com/news/pennsylvania/josh-shapiro-governors-mansion-fire-arson-20250413.html

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Link to tweet

Governor Josh Shapiro
@GovernorShapiro
·
1h
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 in Harrisburg.

The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police. Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished.

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 to them for keeping us safe.

@PAStatePolice
is on the scene leading this investigation and will keep the public updated.

IIRC, his predecessor - Tom Wolf - never stayed there but resided in his own home that was near Harrisburg.


Article updated.

Original article/headline -

Arsonist set fire to Pa. governor's mansion during Passover causing 'significant damage'

Published April 13, 2025, 11:13 a.m. ET


An arsonist set fire to the Pennsylvania governor's mansion in Harrisburg early Sunday morning causing "a significant amount of damage," according to state police. Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were uninjured. Shapiro, who is Jewish, posted a photo Saturday evening of his family's Passover dinner at the governor's residence.

Pennsylvania State Police are still investigating, but said in a news release they believe it to be an act of arson and are offering a $10,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible.

"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 in Harrisburg," Shapiro posted on X Sunday morning.

"Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished," Shapiro added. "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 to them for keeping us safe."

[SunSeeker]

1. Disgusting. And no doubt a Trumper(s) did this. nt

[nycbos]

3. Don't be to sure

Last edited Sun Apr 13, 2025, 12:27 PM - Edit history (1)

It’s just as likely it was a pro Hamas activist from a college campus.

Right-wing extremists, left-wing extremists and Islamic extremists all have Jew hate central to their ideology.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Dunno what "RW extreme extreme oats" are but there must be a lot of them

Plus, your leap from "college campus activist" to criminal terrorist arsonist seems a lot more prejudiced than I'm used to encountering on a progressive site.

Isn't it the tRump regime that is equating free speaking college campus activists with terrorists and deporting them?

I bet there are a lot more anti-semitic criminal terrorist arsonist right wing extreme extreme oats than anti-semitic criminal terrorist arsonist college campus activists.

[nycbos]

5. They held a janitor hostage at Columbia

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/world/columbia-janitor-says-he-was-held-hostage-by-pro-palestine-protesters/ss-AA1nWuKT

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/columbia-protesters-called-janitors-jew-lovers-during-2024-building-takeover-complaint-says/

So it’s not out of the realm of possibility they would engage in arson.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Prejudice: the act of pre-judging a large group based on the actions of a few

RW extreme extreme oats have engaged in a lot more terroristic activity than campus activists. So expecting oats to have done it is much less prejudice than expecting campus activists to have done it.

[nycbos]

8. I am not saying a Trumper wouldn't do this.

I think it is highly likely. But it's not impossible that a campus activist would do this. They celebrated and praised the largest massacre of Jews since the holocaust and in many cases, stalked, threatened, and harassed Jewish students.

I do not have to have a positive opinion of people who celebrate when my people get killed.

Personally, I hope it is a Trumper because if it isn't, this might become a Reichstag Fire moment.

[Wiz Imp]

18. There are no colleges of any significant size in the Harrisburg area

and I'm not aware of any pro-Palestinian protests at any of those colleges.

[nycbos]

21. 1.5 hour drive to Penn State

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/State+College,+Pennsylvania/Harrisburg,+Pennsylvania/data=!4m8!4m7!1m2!1m1!1s0x89cea899c13bdb73:0x9ce1c6c2833c8091!1m2!1m1!1s0x89c8c116b8079e97:0xbb6e42c8128d46d5!3e0?sa=X&ved=1t:3747&ictx=111

[Wiz Imp]

25. An hour and a half drive is not in the area

And from what I can tell, any Pro-Palestinian protests at Penn State have been very small (about 200 protestors on a campus of 40,000+). Why would someone drive an hour and a half from Penn State to Harrisburg to set fire to the Governor's mansion for......what? No discernible reason? Why would that location be targeted? It's a ludicrous idea.

[nycbos]

29. Extremists aren't logical

The overlap between rightwing extremists, leftwing extremists and Muslim extremists is Jew hate. Given there a lot of Trumper‘s in Pennsylvania. I am willing to bet this was probably a Trump or I’m just saying it’s not out of the realm of possibility that it wasn’t.

[Wiz Imp]

35. Being a Penn State main campus student IS out of the realm of possibility

Absolutely zero chance of that. This was not some angry college student.

[BaronChocula]

22. My thoughts exactly

And why exactly would Josh Shapiro, a random Jewish politician in a state that was not central to protests be a target??? Why not, say, the Israeli consulate in Philly (not to give terrorists any ideas)?

magas on the other hand... (full disclosure, I think photo is from 2020)

[FiveFifteen]

13. Agree

Dogma on either extreme of the political spectrum has one thing in common, antisemitism and lack of independent thought.

[we can do it]

32. Who actually are trumpers

[wolfie001]

33. I have 6 siblings in my family that are tRUMPers

What kind of motivation is that question? Who the f6ck are the tRUMPers? Sarcasm tag is missing.

[BaronChocula]

41. Now we can be so sure

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220235262

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. tRump-Bondi-Kash are more interested to investigate students' free speech than anti-semitic arson. . . . nt

[FakeNoose]

7. Photos posted on Capitol City Fire's Facebook page

Last night's fire at the Governor's mansion:











I believe the Governor's mansion was recently remodeled after Josh Shapiro won in 2022. Am I right?
I'm glad that nobody was injured.

[Polybius]

9. I'm surprised that any state's governor's mansion isn't protected 24/7 by state police

And shouldn't there be cameras everywhere?

[niyad]

10. Thank you. Was wondering the same.

[Wiz Imp]

19. I'm pretty sure there is constant police presence at the site.

However, this fire occurred at the backside of the property where they likely do not have police stationed around the clock.

[orangecrush]

11. Where was security?

[Wiz Imp]

43. Doing their jobs

He was caught on security cameras and security personnel immediately worked to apprehend him. Due to the part of the property he entered, he was able to do his "thing" very quickly and evade immediate apprehension, but they pretty much knew who did it immediately - a big reason he was apprehended less than 12 hours later.

[czarjak]

12. "It'll be bloodless, if The Left allows it."

Correct, Kevin Roberts?

[LudwigPastorius]

14. Where were Trump's J6 "patriots" last night?

They got away with insurrection. What's a little murder/attempted murder against a Democratic politician? Besides, they know Trump has their back now.

[stollen]

15. Looking forward to what gutless wonder

did this.

Have at it, arson investigators.

[Evolve Dammit]

16. And so it begins to intensify. Paul Polosi, death threats. MAGAT mob has been given license

[slightlv]

37. I'm agreeing with you...

while college campuses have gotten a lot of write up due to Palestinian sympathies, my own mold fits that into being against a nation's policies. That doesn't side with either side, IMO. I actually have had friends from both nations when I was in college. You can friend someone of the Jewish state but still argue against it's policies... even as you argue against Hamas. What you're actually arguing against are people killing people in the name of a nation state, IMO.

This, I don't believe, is any of that. Josh Shapiro was realistically considered for presidential nominee and some were mightily angry that Kamala got it instead of Josh. To the point where Josh came out with a statement about it and a statement for Kamala. The fact he's Jewish just adds fuel to the magas rage and desire not to see him have a chance at the presidency. I think someone has seen this coming to pass in the next election, and they want to take him out of the running - permanently. I mean, magas lost their ever-loving freaking minds when we elected Barack Obama, not just once but twice! Electing a Jewish individual would frankly elicit a similar response, as would.. obviously... electing a woman of any color, race, or creed.

Magas want a war; they've wanted civil war for years. Many of their mass shootings were in an attempt to start a race war, according to the manifestos they leave behind. Perhaps they're just tired of the chaos and the waiting for it to begin. They also want to give their maga president a more than better chance at election (Don, Jr. anyone?... or maybe Ivanka. I know at one point trump was talking about leaving behind a dynasty.)

[Evolve Dammit]

44. thanks for the thoughtful reply. All sounds accurate to me.

[Autumn]

17. i don't expect Pam's DOJ will give a fuck about this.

Crimes only matter when committed against Republicans.

[regnaD kciN]

26. Oh, I'm sure they'll find a way to blame it on "pro-Gaza" organizations...

…and round them up for rendition to El Salvador.

[orleans]

20. wow. i hope they catch that fucker. time to get those security cameras installed! hopefully something was caught on

a camera in the neighborhood

[hadEnuf]

23. Trump wants to level Gaza, so someone firebombs a Democratic governor's house?

Let's not play stupid at who was responsible for this....

[Deminpenn]

24. How on earth does some random person get

close enough to the Governor's Mansion to set a fire? This is a major fail by the PA state police, a fireable offense, imo.

FTR, neither Gov Wolf nor Lt Gov Fetterman lived in their official state residences. Both lived at their own homes and commuted.

[underpants]

27. Good question

The Executive Mansion in Virginia is in capital square and guarded by the Capital Police (oldest police force in the US). The first floor is mostly for entertaining. The second floor is the living quarters. Most Governors tend to have another residence in the Richmond area. I don’t know what Youngkin does. MacAuliffe lived there with his wife but they didn’t have any kids living at home. Tom Kaine did live there with his wife and their boys. I’m sure it was pretty cramped.

[BumRushDaShow]

28. I think Shapiro's personal residence is in Abington, Montco (not far from where I am in Philly)

so that would be a couple hour hike back and forth.

[GJGCA]

30. "a fireable offense"

Pun intended or not, you are correct, sir!

[Behind the Aegis]

31. It will be interesting to see what an investigation turns up.

Seems the excuses are already in the bag, so that will make it even more fun.

[BumRushDaShow]

34. The local stations here are awaiting a news conference that should happen shortly

Apparently the mansion is in a "regular neighborhood" in the northern part of Harrisburg and backs to the Susquehanna River. It *supposedly* has security all around it. Apparently the dining room was what was what caught fire and that room supposedly backs to the river.

My other question is about what happened with any smoke detectors.

[Wiz Imp]

36. IT is in a regular neighborhood and across the street from a 7-11 store

[slightlv]

38. Jeez! I understand about wanting to be close

to your constituency, but I have to wonder about the advisability of this location. Back to a river and front to a 7-11, regular houses all around? Seems there'd be as much danger to them as to the capital residence. I've just not heard of this sort of thing before. AFAIK, they were generally away from the general populace... in the amount of land with fencing surrounding it, if nothing else. But then, I come from an area with land probably more easily available than Penn.

[Wiz Imp]

39. I can't find any info on exactly why they chose that location.

Apparently the property was acquired in 1941, but due to WW II , construction never began until 25 years later. It is a large property (3 1/2 acres, 29,000 square foot house).

https://www.pa.gov/agencies/residence/history.html#:~:text=Overlooking%20the%20Susquehanna%20River%2C%20the,and%20the%20Rain%20Gardens.

There are no residential homes along the same side of 2nd street as the mansion within a couple blocks on either end. Though I do believe most of the houses in that area date back over 100 years (and the houses are mostly pretty large - I believe it was the upper-class part of town back in the early 1900's).

[Deminpenn]

40. Harrisburg man named Cody Balmer was arrested

Cody Balmer of Harrisburg was arrested in the arson. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports he slipped past the state police protective guard, got into the house, set the fire in the dining room, left the house and slipped away while the state police were looking for him.

Balmer was caught pretty quickly, but a whole lot of law enforcement incompetence allowed this to happen in the first place.

[Deminpenn]

42. Balmer's motive may have been a pending

Sheriff's sale of his Harrisburg property.

Per the Phila Inq, Balmer has been arrested multiple times.