Pennsylvania Governor's family was sleeping when man with "homemade incendiary devices" set fire to their residence hours after Passover dinner

A family's peaceful sleep after celebrating Passover turned into a nightmare when a methodical intruder hopped a fence with deadly intentions.

A Targeted Attack in the Dead of Night

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family were jolted awake around 2 a.m. Sunday by loud banging on their door.

It wasn't an early morning visitor – it was a state trooper desperately trying to alert them to the danger unfolding within their own home.

The governor's residence in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania had been breached. And someone had deliberately set it on fire.

According to emergency scanner audio obtained by CNN, a caller reported a "large fire on the first floor" of the residence, adding they could "see fire out the windows."

The 29,000-square-foot Georgian Style building, which has housed eight governors since 1968, suffered significant damage in the blaze.

From Celebration to Evacuation

Just hours before the attack, the residence had been filled with joy and community.

Shapiro, his wife Lori, their four children, and guests had gathered to celebrate Passover, an important Jewish holiday commemorating liberation and freedom.

Photos from inside the residence after the fire show the heartbreaking juxtaposition – torched walls and ceilings alongside remnants of the celebration, including a "Passover Crafts" sign now covered in ash.

The family, including their two dogs and other house guests, were safely evacuated by police. But the question remained – who would target the governor's family as they slept?

A Suspect With a Plan

State police didn't take long to make an arrest.

Cody Balmer, a 38-year-old Harrisburg man, was taken into custody in connection with the alleged arson.

Lt. Col. George Bivens of the Pennsylvania State Police revealed disturbing details about the suspect's preparation and execution.

"He clearly had a plan. He was very methodical in his approach."

Balmer allegedly came equipped with "homemade incendiary devices" – a detail that suggests premeditation and potentially deadly intent.

This wasn't Balmer's first brush with the law. Court records show he was due in court this week for a plea hearing in a separate 2023 simple assault case.

In 2016, he pleaded guilty to forgery and theft by deception charges.

A Governor's Defiant Response

In an emotional press conference after the attack, Shapiro – a prominent Democrat who has been floated as a possible 2028 presidential candidate – condemned the violence while displaying remarkable resolve.

"This type of violence is not OK," Shapiro said, his voice rising. "We have to be better than this."

The governor made it clear that the attack struck at more than just his family.

"This was an attack not just on my family but on the entire Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."

He also pointedly addressed the timing of the attack, which came just after a Jewish holiday celebration.

"If he was trying to terrorize our family, our friends, the Jewish community, who joined us for a Passover Seder in that room last night, hear me on this: we celebrated our faith last night, proudly and in a few hours, we will celebrate our second Seder of Passover."

What Really Happened That Night

Investigators have now pieced together the terrifying sequence of events that unfolded in those early morning hours.

Balmer allegedly hopped the fence surrounding the residence, successfully breached the property's security, and broke into the home.

Once inside, he set fire to the residence while the governor, his family, and guests were asleep upstairs.

Perhaps most chilling is the revelation that Balmer was inside the governor's residence for less than one minute, and "actively evaded" troopers who were searching for him simultaneously.

Prosecutors plan to charge Balmer with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault against an enumerated person. The FBI is also assisting in the investigation, suggesting possible federal charges.

The attack comes amid a troubling rise in threats against elected officials – including plots against Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and two assassination attempts on former President Trump.

As security reviews begin, Governor Shapiro remains undeterred: "If this individual was trying to deter me from doing my job as your governor, rest assured, I will find a way to work even harder than I was."