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A 38-year-old man pleaded guilty on Tuesday to charges including attempt to murder and arson for setting fire inside a government house. pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro While Shapiro, his family and others were inside.
Cody Balmer was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in state prison as part of a plea agreement.
No one was injured but the fire of April 13 caused significant damage to the Governor’s Mansion. Shapiro said the attack left his family feeling unsafe. He said he supports the plea agreement.
What to know about the case:
How was the fire started?
Authorities say Ballmer climbed over an iron security fence, used gasoline in beer bottles to burn down a dining room and entertainment venue, broke a window to get inside, then kicked in the door where the Shapiros and guests were sleeping, but couldn’t get inside. He moved back out and was never encountered by state police on the property.
Hours earlier, Shapiro, his family and overnight guests had celebrated Jewish Passover holiday with Seder. The state police woke him up and took him to a safe place.
Balmer called 911 and went to a state police facility to turn himself in the next afternoon.
Why did he attack the governor’s mansion?
Balmer’s family said he received mental health treatment, but struggled after he stopped taking his medication. District Attorney Fran Chardo said at a news conference Tuesday that Balmer had expressed concerns about the war. Gaza And somehow saw this attack as a response to the deaths in that conflict.
Balmer told The Associated Press in a letter from prison in May that Shapiro’s Jewish faith was not a factor.
What has the Governor said about this?
A statement from Shapiro and his wife, Lori, was read in court, describing how the attack changed their sense of personal safety and security. Some family members have difficulty sleeping, she said, and now “there’s a fear and anxiety that we’re learning to live with.” He said the damage and repair work are a constant reminder of what happened.
After the hearing, the governor told reporters that he and his wife have struggled to understand it.
He said it was difficult to even say the words “attempted murder” out loud, knowing he was the target.
“It’s especially difficult to know that he tried to kill our family by burning us to death while we slept,” Shapiro said.
What happened to the building?
The fire gutted walls, tables, utensils and a piano and damaged window panes and bricks of the five-decade-old residence, which had no sprinklers.
property in Harrisburg The Susquehanna River reopened to the public as cleanup and reconstruction began, and following a consultant safety review it is receiving safety upgrades, including an anti-climb fence. The findings of that review were not publicly disclosed.
The cost of the damage is expected to exceed one million dollars.