Overview

• Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his family narrowly escaped an arson and attempted assassination at their Harrisburg residence on April 13, 2025.
• Cody Balmer, the 38-year-old suspect, has been charged with multiple offenses, including attempted homicide, aggravated arson, and terrorism.
• Balmer’s extremist and anti-establishment views, coupled with signs of mental instability, are believed to have influenced his actions, though an official motive has not been released.
• The attack is part of an alarming rise in politically motivated violence targeting public officials, reflecting deepening ideological polarization in the U.S.
• Calls for proactive security measures and a reexamination of extremist rhetoric are growing as political violence increasingly threatens democratic institutions.