The Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office announced today that Cody Balmer, 38, pleaded guilty to attempted murder of Governor Josh Shapiro, aggravated arson, and 22 counts of arson—one for each of the 22 victims within the residence endangered by the arson, burglary, and related offenses.

Balmer was sentenced to not less than 25 years or more than 50 years in prison following a plea agreement offered by District Attorney Fran Chardo. He will not be eligible for parole until April 13, 2050 at the age of 63.

According to the DA, if he receives parole, he would remain under supervision through April 13, 2075, at the age of 88.

Balmer was arrested in April. He told dispatchers that Josh Shapiro needs to be told he “will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people” and told authorities he was willing to confess his actions. He had previously been charged with assault and forgery, as well as traffic-related offenses.

The DA’s factual basis for the guilty plea is below:

In the early morning hours of April 13, 2025, the defendant Cody A. Balmer travelled to the Governor’s Residence at 2035 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, for the specific purpose of attack. He hid in a position of surveillance south of the Residence outside the fenced area for a lengthy period. Making use of what he learned during his surveillance, Balmer secretly climbed the high fence on the north side of the property. Within a bag, he carried two Molotov cocktails, handheld incendiary weapons with gasoline within, as well as a sledgehammer with approximately a one-foot handle. After a calculated delay, Balmer directly approached the south side of the Governor’s Mansion. He went to a glass window and broke it open using the sledgehammer. He then threw a flaming Molotov cocktail into the Residence, starting a fire within. Balmer immediately moved past a locked double door to the east of that window to the next window. Balmer again used the sledgehammer, striking the window multiple times until it broke upon widely enough for him to enter the Governor’s residence. (See Video Exhibits “A” and “B”). The time that lapsed from his strike upon the first window to set a fire there until he entered the second window after breaking it was approximately 34 seconds.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

Exhibit C:

Exhibit D:

The jacket that Balmer wore during the arson attack which was recovered from his home:

The sledgehammer Balmer used during the arson attack which was recovered from his home:

For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.

Screengrab: Youtube