The prosecutor handling the case against a man charged with
setting fire
The official residence of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated on Friday that authorities are examining whether the incident involved religious or political prejudice.
could explain why
he expressed “hatred” for the Democratic leader.
Suspect’s 911 call released: Click the video player above to listen
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Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo stated that officials are attempting to clarify a remark made by law enforcement in the arrest warrant, where Cody Balmer confessed to holding animosity toward Shapiro, who identifies as Jewish.
Balmer, who rejected claims of having a mental illness even as his family disagreed, is charged with entering a home in Harrisburg late at night on Sunday. He allegedly set fire to two beer bottles filled with gasoline, resulting in significant damage but fortunately caused no injuries.
“We’re still examining that aspect and the duration for which the Animus has been present in his consciousness,” Chardo stated to The Associated Press.
When Balmer called 911 less than an hour after the fire, he said “Governor Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody Balmer will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,” according to the 911 recording released Friday by Dauphin County.
Balmer also said Shapiro “needs to leave my family alone,” mentioned his own daughters and baselessly accused Shapiro of “having my friends killed” in recent weeks, without offering any further explanation of his claims. “Our people have been put through too much by that monster,” he said.
The governor has openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration and Israel’s military operations in Gaza. However, he still supports the nation’s right to protect itself against Hamas.
Balmer didn’t mention Israel or Gaza in the 911 call, but told the dispatcher he was “tired of offering extensions of peace.”
I simply desire to secure a livelihood for my kids,” he stated. “It’s unfair to push me to such extremes. I mean no one any ill will.
Balmer concluded by stating that the police were aware of his location, he wasn’t in hiding, and he would admit to “all that I have done.”
Examining possible motive
Chardo stated that resorting to violence is not how one should address religious or political disparities.
“Using fire to attack the governor’s residence only intensifies the severity of the crime,” the prosecutor stated.
The governor stated that he will allow the prosecutors to decide what triggered the assault. “That’s not something I should address,” Shapiro commented.
Chardo mentioned that the suspect’s electronic devices were under examination. The warrants authorizing searches of multiple smartphones, a laptop, and a hard drive specified that investigators were looking for mentions of Shapiro, Israel, Palestinians, or Gaza. However, Chardo refrained from commenting on whether he believes antisemitism, religious prejudice, or political motives played a role.
A charge of ethnic intimidation under Pennsylvania’s hate crime law, which serves to make a sentence more severe, wouldn’t affect Balmer’s sentence if he’s convicted, because he’s already charged with first-degree felonies that carry the most serious penalties, Chardo said.
“If religious bias was part of it, was a motive, that is certainly relevant,” Chardo said. “We’re not dismissing that, but it would go to the sentencing within the statutory maximum.”
Balmer has been imprisoned since
turning himself in
, facing accusations of attempted murder, arson, assault, and burglary. No plea has been entered yet.
Approaching police before arrest
The family reported that the 38-year-old jobless welder, residing with his parents, has a past involving psychological issues and has occasionally skipped his prescribed medicine for bipolar disorder.
Prior to his surrender at the state police headquarters on Sunday afternoon, he had made two attempts to approach law enforcement officers in nearby Penbrook but was not arrested. Additionally, there was no county-wide alert instructing authorities to keep an eye out for him.
Pennlive
When officers checked his information using their database, they found nothing that warranted holding him further. They failed to make the connection because he discussed his past mental health issues and an assault charge but did not mention anything related to the fire, according to statements from Penbrook’s police chief to the news outlet.
An ex-girlfriend dialed the state police hotline two times on Sunday to inform them that Balmer had admitted guilt, according to reports by Pennlive. However, no law enforcement officials went to verify this information at Balmer’s residence. Later, Balmer chose to surrender himself at the Pennsylvania State Police headquarters, which was over 2 miles away from where he lived.
Questioning competence for trial
The attorneys assigned by Balmer might request postponing the preliminary hearing scheduled for this Wednesday, allowing time for an evaluation of his competency to face charges in court.
“If these claims hold up, they will illustrate the harsh impacts of serious mental health issues,” stated Mary Klatt, the public defender for Dauphin County.
Balmer told a judge on Monday that he doesn’t have a mental illness.
Chardo said any competency review would focus whether Balmer is currently capable of aiding in his own defense, as opposed to a potential insanity claim that would hinge on the defendant’s mental health at the time of the crimes.
“It would fall upon the defense to prove that he cannot contribute effectively to his own defense,” Chardo stated. Assessing him currently could be prudent, according to Chardo, as raising this matter during the trial may complicate efforts to accurately judge whether he was once mentally fit.
“It’s better to assess at that moment,” Chardo stated.
According to police affidavits, when Balmer was questioned about his potential actions upon encountering Shapiro within the house, he stated that he would have struck the governor using a sledgehammer.
The state police announced on Friday that they have employed a previous state police commissioner, Jeffrey Miller, to carry out an investigation.
independent security review
Miller along with his team is anticipated to start conducting interviews and inspect the location early next week.
The police claim that Balmer scaled an elevated iron security barrier, evaded law enforcement who noticed the intrusion, and shattered windows to gain entry as he ignited bottles filled with gasoline within the chambers where Shapiro’s family had celebrated a Passover Seder earlier that evening. Around 2 a.m., state troopers woke up the family.
led them to safety
as the blaze resulted in millions of dollars in damages.
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Pa. governor’s residence attack: Suspect’s 911 call released, police seek motive
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