Lower than an hour after he allegedly firebombed the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion, the suspect referred to as 911 and appeared to apologize and confess to the early Sunday assault, in response to a newly launched recording of the decision.
“I do not actually have an emergency. I want to apologize,” the suspect, 38-year-old Cody Balmer, is heard telling the operator in a recording of the decision obtained by ABC Information by way of a public information request.
Balmer refers to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and himself by identify within the recording of the decision, which has been cited in a number of warrants within the case.
“Gov. Josh Shapiro must know that Cody Balmer won’t participate in his plan for what he desires to do to the Palestinian folks,” Balmer is heard saying within the recording. “He wants to go away my household alone.”
“He must cease having my mates killed,” he continues within the recording. “Our folks have been put by way of an excessive amount of by that monster.”
The harm to the residence’s eating room by the hearth was additionally talked about within the name, in response to the recording.
“All he has is a banquet corridor to wash up,” Balmer is heard saying within the recording. “I am uninterested in providing extensions of peace. I solely need to have the ability to present for my kids. I shouldn’t be taken to those extremes. It isn’t honest.”
Investigators are on the scene after an in a single day hearth on the governor’s official residence, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa.
Marc Levy/AP
The suspect stated he wished “no hurt onto anybody,” in response to the recording.
“However that man, that man is doing severe, severe hurt to most likely your self included,” he continues within the recording. “And I do want you the very best, sir. You all know the place to seek out me. I am not hiding, and I do confess to every little thing that I’ve carried out.”
Balmer’s voice is fairly calm all through the roughly minute-long name, although he’s heard taking a few deep breaths. It seems he hangs up earlier than the operator can reply.
ABC Information has reached out to Balmer’s public defender for touch upon the decision and has not but acquired a response.
The 911 name was made at roughly 2:50 a.m. Sunday, in response to search warrants.
Members of the Harrisburg Bureau of Hearth responded to the governor’s residence at roughly 2 a.m. that day for the report of a fireplace.
The assault occurred hours after the Shapiro household hosted greater than two dozen folks for the primary night time of Passover. The assailant hopped a fence on the governor’s mansion, broke home windows, entered the residence and deployed Molotov cocktails created from beer bottles and gasoline, police stated.
Shapiro and his household had been within the residence on the time of the hearth however had been evacuated safely and never injured, in response to state police.
Cody A. Balmer seems for a mugshot photograph after being charged in reference to a hearth at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa.
Dauphin County District Legal professional’s Workplace/Getty Photographs
Balmer turned himself in and allegedly confessed to the hearth, in response to search warrants.
He faces eight prison expenses, together with tried homicide, terrorism and aggravated arson. Up to now, prosecutors haven’t invoked a hate crime legislation, which in Pennsylvania is called ethnic intimidation.
He has but to enter a plea to the costs.
Balmer — a mechanic who had beforehand expressed disdain for Democrats on social media — was denied bail at his arraignment on Monday.
Through the listening to, his legal professional stated Balmer is indigent and requested for a “affordable financial bail,” however the choose denied it, saying that whereas he appreciated that Balmer turned himself in, there have been no circumstances that would maintain him from being a hazard to the group.
He’s set to seem in courtroom on April 23 for a preliminary listening to.
