Governor relives firebomb attack, harrowing escape in exclusive walkthrough of home
Governor, thank you for sitting down with us and uh allowing us to see what has been going on here inside of the residence. Um, I know you’ve spoken at times over the last several months about how you were doing, but 6 months later, um, how are you feeling? How are you and your family doing? I mean, thanks for asking, you know, we’re OK, um, I I think in the. Initial weeks it was really hard just as *** dad trying to get your kids through that trying to process it myself Laurie trying to process it trying to continue to you know run the Commonwealth and be here for the wonderful people that work at the residences and and it was *** lot and, and you know we worked our way through that um we were there for the kids I think got them through it. Over the last couple weeks since um the conviction, I, I think it you know it, it sort of brought it back up again um while we’re pleased that there’s some finality and some closure to this chapter, you know, seeing the video and. Sort of having to go through that again that was hard hard for our family but we’re working our way through it. I, I can tell you that I’m more focused and determined than ever before to do this work. uh I’m not afraid, uh, but it certainly has an impact. How has it changed you as you look at not only your role as the governor but also uh as the head of *** family as as *** father? Yeah. I don’t think any parent can ever be prepared for something like this as *** parent, you know, all you want is for your kids to be healthy and safe and have opportunity in life and I think every parent, uh, universally wants that for their kids and so when you realize that the job you’ve chosen the career path you’ve chosen, the work you love to do, put your kids’ lives at risk and compromise one of those central tenets you have as *** parent, um. It’s really hard so that that’s been hard for me as *** dad to work through. I, I think what it has, um, caused me to do is just not cause that’s not the right word, but what what it’s led me to do is just be more present for my kids, um, try and be there when they wanna have *** catch or they just wanna do something and answer their questions just be super attentive to what’s on their mind. uh, I think sometimes I’m probably annoying to them when I go, hey buddy, what’s up? Is there anything you wanna ask me anything on your mind? Um, but I, I just have found that being more attentive, more connected, answering their questions, uh, you know, has helped us, helped us get through this. I don’t know that I have *** perfect answer, um, and I’m processing it every day, and I think Gloria and I strive every day to be better parents, you know, to our kids as I think every parent does, and, um. You know we’ve got some amazing children that that that have you know they’re just really strong to the core and they’ve gotten through this. When you talk about being here at the residence, whether it’s having stayed overnight here since the incident or or just been visiting and hosting an event uh like state dinner. Have things changed for you when you walk through the halls, when you walk through this garden area. Yeah, candidly, um, one of the things I like to do is after, you know, my meetings or *** dinner meeting or an event or whatever it is, I work really late, as you know I get up really early, you know, so it might be 10 o’clock at night. Um, and I will get on the phone, throw my AirPods on, and I will walk these gardens because rather than sitting still I like to move and as I walk here I can’t help but think, you know, the steps that he took or where he hid or the windows that he he broke through and it probably will be some time till I can shake that now I’m not afraid it doesn’t make me not want to come outside, um, you know, I still sleep here and spend *** lot of time here with our family. So I’m, I’m not afraid, but, but I’d be lying if I said I don’t think about it when I opened the double doors that lead to, you know, our, our more private area, those are double doors he was trying to kick down and get through. I’d be lying if I said when I grabbed the door handle to open it up and go through, I, I don’t think about that. Again, not in *** way that that holds me back or in *** way that stops me from doing what I gotta do, um, but it’s present and, and I think about it. When you’re having moments like that, perhaps over the last several months where you’re thinking about what happened, maybe, uh, you know, you, you remember some of those emotions they come back to you *** little bit. Who have you leaned on the most over these last 6 months to try to uh. Whether it’s come to terms or or just deal with the emotions Laurie, um, I, I, someone asked me the other day, you know, did you go to therapy for this and, and I didn’t, not because I think there’s any shame in therapy. I think it’s *** wonderful thing, but for, for Laurie and I think because we experienced it together, um, processing it together, talking about it together. Um, telling her what I’m thinking and what I’m feeling when I’m wandering here in the gardens or whether I’m upstairs, you know, in the living quarters above where the, the attack took place, um, I think just being able to talk with her has been the, the most important thing, you know, Laura and I, uh. Walk every day when we’re together and if we’re not together you know I’m here and she’s back in Montgomery County with the kids or something. I, I’ll still throw throw my airpods on and walk and talk to her that way. I think just that process of walking of talking, she’s my best friend in the world since the 9th grade that’s, yeah, that’s really helped me get through this. You know this event obviously brought *** lot of attention to the governor’s residence and I know we’re gonna walk around in *** little bit with all the attention, all the scrutiny, how, how do you balance all of that happening while you’re still trying to do your job, still trying to deal with, uh, the emotions of what happened. Is it difficult to process all of that sometimes? Yeah, and, and look, I mean. Like anyone, I value my privacy and I don’t really have any. I mean, I’m not, I’m not complaining. I asked for this job and, and I love this job and I wanna do it for *** good long while, but you know you, you do give up that sense of privacy and so even more so now, um, you lose that privacy. I, I think you know as I walk around these grounds late at night we now have armed troopers who are who are here. Um, you look through the windows and there’s like *** waviness to it because we’ve got ballistic shields on the windows. I mean, and *** lot of other technology and stuff here that’s been installed to keep us safe and so while it’s comforting to know that my family and I are safe and guests are safe and the staff is safe, you know, I don’t know anybody really wants to live in, you know, with ballistic windows knowing that there are people that wanna do you harm and. I think for for us I I just try and have comfort in knowing that we got wonderful people in the state police there to keep us safe. This is just the reality of the world we’re in and I and I can’t let it slow me down or deter me from from doing the work I’m doing, but it does, you know, it does take some getting used to and and certainly something that we’re constantly processing. We talked with Colonel Paris earlier today and he admitted there were failures that uh evening when you talk about that and trying to come back here and and be here and you look around at all the different things that are happening, the new barrier on the outside, some of the new technology that is going in, um, do you feel confident that they have taken the steps to make this place safer than it was on that evening? I do now I mean I I I I was rattled. Uh, you know, that day and in the days thereafter I asked *** lot of questions about how could this happen. Um, they had some answers and to Colonel Paris is great credit, um, he thought we needed an outside, you know, expert to come in and do an assessment here and at our home and, and in the way we travel and make sure that we were safe not only here but in in all different, you know, aspects of our lives. I, I am now confident that they’ve taken the steps and continue to take the steps necessary. To keep me and my family safe, to keep the staff and others safe that that are here and to make sure our guests are safe. So yeah, I’ve got confidence in the state police. I really do. And you know, I wanted to ask obviously Cody Ballmer, um. In the investigation they they were able to determine that he had uh what sounded like *** political motivated reason for for doing what he was doing. We talk about political violence we talk about the fact that there was an attempted murder of you at this residence. With what we continue to see, do you feel like as it pertains to political violence we need to, uh, look back on things like this and say we really have to do *** better job as *** society, not allowing it to happen absolutely and and I think it starts with. All leaders speaking and acting the moral clarity to condemn political violence, I think it requires all of us to take down the temperature we can have strong disagreements with, you know, the, the political opposition without treating them like they’re our enemy. You know, I think our our politics in many ways have gotten so dark and and political violence is certainly quite dark, but I’ve also just seen an extraordinary amount of light from, you know, ordinary Pennsylvanians who are just really good and decent people who, who pray for us who, who want society to be less violent who wanna just disagree agreeably with politicians or agree with them if their positions happen to be in sync. Uh, but I, I think too often times our political leaders are not good examples of, of what we need more of, um, and, and so I’ve made it *** point. I, I know others have. Spencer Cox, *** good friend of mine, the governor of Utah, has, you know, of trying to make sure that the rhetoric is, is toned down, that we find more common ground even if we might have *** disagreement on *** policy. And that we universally condemn political violence and and not allow *** certain group or type of person or person with *** certain ideology to think their hateful rhetoric or their violence is OK. None of that type of hate, none of that type of violence is OK and it’s got to be universally condemned. Before we look around the residents and you, you know, before, before we, we go through some of the steps about what occurred that night, I, I wanted to ask for you. With everything that’s happened over the last 6 months with with what happened on that evening. Is there anything you feel like people just haven’t understood about that and, and, and, you know, something you perhaps haven’t articulated yet as far as, you know, your emotions or perhaps just the experience of trying to process all that and. I don’t know, Tom. I mean, I’m still processing *** lot of it. And I don’t expect Pennsylvanians to bear my burden, you know, this is my responsibility to bear. I do think *** lot of people were shocked when they saw the videos that came out, uh, just *** couple weeks ago when, um, when he was convicted and sentenced up to 50 years in prison when they saw just how brazen the attack was, how deep he got into the residence, the destruction that, uh, that took place, the fact that, you know. He pled guilty to trying to kill me. Um, I think that was *** shock to *** lot of people, you know, who hadn’t seen that video and didn’t realize just the extent of the damage and. And how, how much in danger my family and I were and uh I think that’s that that was *** shock to *** lot of people. I, I don’t want Pennsylvanians to be worried about me or our family or this or be burdened by it. I want them to go about their their daily lives and know I’m working my *** off for them to make their lives better. That’s my job and I love what I do and and I’m gonna keep doing it and and working incredibly hard for them. With everything that’s been happening, will you be, will you be excited when this place has all the construction equipment gone? I gotta say, I mean the construction has been *** challenge not just for our family but the wonderful people that work here. We’ve tried really hard to still be able to bring people in and have the events tonight we’re honored to host the state dinner. Um, which usually here state dinner you think *** bunch of insiders get to come to *** fancy meal. Actually my wife Laurie, our first lady changed that concept. We now honor 10 unsung heroes in in communities across Pennsylvania. We honor them. With the fancy dinner here and and give them the Governor’s Keystone Award for um their incredible contributions to to our commonwealth so we’re really excited to have that uh in here. I wish the gardens were put back together. I wish the outside looked *** little better but um it will and and I I also want all of our neighbors here to know that we realized this has been. Um, disturbing to them, it doesn’t look as pretty as it did before. It’s gonna look amazing when it’s done. We’re gonna plant *** lot more trees and, and beautify the area. We, we have *** commitment not just to our safety and security here for visitors but also to make it beautiful on the outside for for neighbors as well. So sure, I’d love for the construction to be over soon, but we’re not letting uh letting it hold us back. We’re gonna keep going forward. Do you think that’s when things might start to feel normal again? Maybe yeah yeah I think um. You know, no normal for you may maybe the ability to take *** bike ride or take *** walk and kinda just be able to blend in we, we don’t really have that ability right now and um particularly with so many people around so I think the fewer people that are around, the more we can get back. Our, uh, semblance of normalcy sure that’d be great, but I, I do have to say to the amazing people who have worked here, I mean they’ve been working almost nonstop since the moments after the police released this scene to us, um, and let us get going with the rebuild. So I, I have no complaints. The people here have worked really, really hard. I’m excited for them to finish their job and, and, and to get it, get it all back in tip top shape for the public. Governor, thank you.
Governor relives firebomb attack, harrowing escape in exclusive walkthrough of home
Updated: 4:02 AM PDT Nov 1, 2025
Editorial Standards ⓘ
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke exclusively with Hearst sister station WGAL about the arson attack on the state governor’s residence earlier this year and walked the station through the grounds and residence to describe how it happened. Touring grounds, governor’s homeDuring a walkthrough of the gardens, Shapiro describes how the intruder, Cody Balmer, scaled what was then a six-foot fence, hid near a brick gazebo in a once-wooded area, and initially evaded troopers. “That’s where he climbed over (a fence) with relative ease,” Shapiro said, pointing out an area where a brick wall is now being built. “And he sort of hid back here in what used to be a pretty wooded area … after one of the troopers realized that there was a breach of the fence came to try to find him, and missed him.”Carrying a metal hammer and a bag of Molotov cocktails, Balmer moved deliberately to a window, smashed it, and hurled a firebomb that gutted the room. He then broke another window, climbed inside, and tried to reach double doors leading to the family’s living and work areas. The double doors had been locked just minutes earlier. “And this is the window that he smashed and climbed through, wielding this metal hammer that he admitted he was going to use to kill me if he found me,” Shapiro said.Balmer prowled about inside, kicking doors, but as the smoke thickened, he turned back.Shapiro called the incident a clear security failure but said state police have learned from it and upgrades are in place. He recounted his family’s evacuation down a back stairwell and his later return with firefighters, where dense smoke, water, and wreckage made it evident the blaze was intentional.”I remember as I was walking down the hallway in the house, you couldn’t see your hand in front of you. The smoke was so thick it was burning your nose, your eyes,” Shapiro said. “You could hear the water dripping. And obviously I’m no expert, but I had assumed up until that moment when I came back in here, whatever it was about, you know, two or three in the morning, that it was an accident, that something caught fire in the kitchen or, you know, something like that or a faulty wire. And then when I walked in this room and saw what it looked like … I realized, OK, I don’t think this was an accident. And then, sure enough, a few minutes later, I was informed it was an attack. And it was very purposeful.”You can watch the full tour of the grounds and residence with Shapiro in the video player below.Security improvements, costsRebuilding began immediately — ceilings, floors, windows, and a melted chandelier were replaced — and the room was restored to its original look, being prepared to host a state dinner honoring 10 Pennsylvanians. In a letter to the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the Department of General Services laid out how much it would cost to repair the governor’s residence and make various security improvements that were deemed necessary after numerous vulnerabilities were exposed. The total cost for the restoration and security enhancements totaled roughly $40 million. The Department of General Services provided the following breakdown as well as explanations for each expenditure. You can read the full letter here. $6.44 million: Estimated cost to restore the residence to pre-event condition. $14 million: Outer perimeter, barrier replacement.$6.3 million: Updated cameras, improved lighting motion sensors.$8 million: Retrofit existing windows with bulletproof, shatter-proof glass.$4 million: Fire suppression system.”The horrifying attack on the Governor, his family, and Commonwealth property, coupled with the unfortunate rise in political violence across our country, has made these updates necessary to protect the Governor and his family and ensure the continued operation of the executive branch of the Commonwealth. No family should have to live behind bulletproof glass or behind large walls – but the nature of the threats against elected officials today require us to take these important steps,” the letter said.Arsonist sentencedOn Oct. 14, Cody Balmer pleaded guilty to setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s residence in April. Balmer was convicted of attempted homicide, aggravated arson and terrorism. The judge sentenced him to 25 to 50 years in prison.Motive behind attackBalmer admitted to targeting the residence due to Shapiro’s stance on the war in Gaza.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro spoke exclusively with Hearst sister station WGAL about the arson attack on the state governor’s residence earlier this year and walked the station through the grounds and residence to describe how it happened.
Touring grounds, governor’s home
During a walkthrough of the gardens, Shapiro describes how the intruder, Cody Balmer, scaled what was then a six-foot fence, hid near a brick gazebo in a once-wooded area, and initially evaded troopers.
“That’s where he climbed over (a fence) with relative ease,” Shapiro said, pointing out an area where a brick wall is now being built. “And he sort of hid back here in what used to be a pretty wooded area … after one of the troopers realized that there was a breach of the fence came to try to find him, and missed him.”
WGAL
The governor points to the area where Balmer scaled a fence.
Carrying a metal hammer and a bag of Molotov cocktails, Balmer moved deliberately to a window, smashed it, and hurled a firebomb that gutted the room.
He then broke another window, climbed inside, and tried to reach double doors leading to the family’s living and work areas. The double doors had been locked just minutes earlier.
“And this is the window that he smashed and climbed through, wielding this metal hammer that he admitted he was going to use to kill me if he found me,” Shapiro said.
Balmer prowled about inside, kicking doors, but as the smoke thickened, he turned back.
Shapiro called the incident a clear security failure but said state police have learned from it and upgrades are in place. He recounted his family’s evacuation down a back stairwell and his later return with firefighters, where dense smoke, water, and wreckage made it evident the blaze was intentional.
“I remember as I was walking down the hallway in the house, you couldn’t see your hand in front of you. The smoke was so thick it was burning your nose, your eyes,” Shapiro said. “You could hear the water dripping. And obviously I’m no expert, but I had assumed up until that moment when I came back in here, whatever it was about, you know, two or three in the morning, that it was an accident, that something caught fire in the kitchen or, you know, something like that or a faulty wire. And then when I walked in this room and saw what it looked like … I realized, OK, I don’t think this was an accident. And then, sure enough, a few minutes later, I was informed it was an attack. And it was very purposeful.”
You can watch the full tour of the grounds and residence with Shapiro in the video player below.
Security improvements, costs
Rebuilding began immediately — ceilings, floors, windows, and a melted chandelier were replaced — and the room was restored to its original look, being prepared to host a state dinner honoring 10 Pennsylvanians.
In a letter to the Pennsylvania House and Senate, the Department of General Services laid out how much it would cost to repair the governor’s residence and make various security improvements that were deemed necessary after numerous vulnerabilities were exposed.
The total cost for the restoration and security enhancements totaled roughly $40 million. The Department of General Services provided the following breakdown as well as explanations for each expenditure. You can read the full letter here.
- $6.44 million: Estimated cost to restore the residence to pre-event condition.
- $14 million: Outer perimeter, barrier replacement.
- $6.3 million: Updated cameras, improved lighting motion sensors.
- $8 million: Retrofit existing windows with bulletproof, shatter-proof glass.
- $4 million: Fire suppression system.
“The horrifying attack on the Governor, his family, and Commonwealth property, coupled with the unfortunate rise in political violence across our country, has made these updates necessary to protect the Governor and his family and ensure the continued operation of the executive branch of the Commonwealth. No family should have to live behind bulletproof glass or behind large walls – but the nature of the threats against elected officials today require us to take these important steps,” the letter said.
Arsonist sentenced
On Oct. 14, Cody Balmer pleaded guilty to setting fire to the Pennsylvania governor’s residence in April.
Balmer was convicted of attempted homicide, aggravated arson and terrorism. The judge sentenced him to 25 to 50 years in prison.
Motive behind attack
Balmer admitted to targeting the residence due to Shapiro’s stance on the war in Gaza.
