Crime
Cody Balmer Arrested for Arson, Terrorism After Setting Fire to Residence with Josh Shapiro, family inside
A 38-year-old Harrisburg man, identified as Cody Balmer, has been arrested and is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly setting a fire that caused significant damage to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg early Sunday morning, prompting a swift evacuation of Governor Josh Shapiro, his family, and their guests.
According to Dauphin County District Attorney Francis Chardo, Balmer will be charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault in connection with the incident, which unfolded around 2:00 a.m. on April 13, 2025.
Authorities say Balmer illegally entered the grounds of the Governor’s Residence on North Front Street by scaling a security fence, then forcibly breached the home’s structure.
Pennsylvania State Police Deputy Commissioner George Bivens reported that Balmer was in possession of a homemade incendiary device and managed to evade law enforcement personnel initially responding to the breach.
He was later taken into custody in the surrounding area.
During a press conference Sunday afternoon, Governor Shapiro described the harrowing moments when he, his wife, their four children, two dogs, and another family staying with them were awakened by state troopers in the early morning hours. The group had been gathered the previous evening to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover.
“I’m obviously emotional,” Shapiro said. “When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover and the story of the Jewish exodus from bondage. I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempted to put on me by attacking us as they did last night.”
Shapiro expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers and first responders who ensured his family’s safety, stating, “This type of violence is not okay. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society. And I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one particular side or the other. Directed at one particular party or another or one particular person or another. It is not okay — and it has to stop. We have to be better than this.”
Officials confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident, though a portion of the residence—specifically a large room often used for entertaining and art displays—sustained significant fire damage.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded promptly and brought the situation under control while assisting with evacuation.
By Sunday afternoon, charred areas of the building were visible on its south side, and a heavy police presence remained at the scene. Yellow caution tape cordoned off nearby areas, and officers were seen working with K9 units outside the gated perimeter.
Governor Shapiro, who splits time between the Governor’s Residence and his home in Abington, approximately 100 miles east, had shared a photo on social media the night before the fire showing the family’s Passover Seder table.
The incident has drawn strong reactions from political leaders and public figures. Former Pennsylvania Governors Tom Ridge and Mark Schweiker, both Republicans, condemned the attack, calling it a “despicable act of cowardice” and “shocking.” Ridge added, “Whoever is responsible for this attack — to both the Shapiro family and our Commonwealth — must be held to account.”
Governor Shapiro confirmed he has received offers of support and assistance from the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as well as messages of solidarity from fellow governors and national leaders.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday also issued a statement pledging his office’s full support in the investigation, calling it a “senseless act of violence.”
The investigation remains active and ongoing. Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact law enforcement.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subject’s vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.