Jewish Insider returns to the story of Cody Balmer’s arson and attempted murder of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in its Daily Roundup. JI links to PennLive’s story on the familiar motive that may have driven Balmer’s attack. Based on one of the search warrants executed in the case, Juliette Rihl reports:
The suspect in the arson attack at the Governor’s Residence targeted Josh Shapiro due to his perceived stance on Palestine, according to a search warrant obtained by PennLive.
The suspect, Cody Balmer, called 911 following the attack early Sunday, identified himself by name and told operators Shapiro needs to know he “…will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people,” the search warrant written by police said.
Balmer continued, saying he needed to “stop having my friends killed” and that “…our people have been put through too much by that monster,” according to the warrant, which says Balmer’s intonation and cadence sounded like he was possibly reading from a script.
Rihl has more on the motive a few paragraphs down in the story:
In the warrant for his devices signed Tuesday, Corporal Benjamin Forsythe of the Pennsylvania State Police says Balmer targeted Shapiro “based upon perceived injustices to the people of Palestine,” as well as Shapiro’s Jewish faith, though the warrant does not elaborate on why Shapiro’s faith is believed to have been a motive.
Immediately after the attack I expressed the thought that the authorities would get a handle on the source of Balmer’s hatred of Shapiro and the evidence would emerge. Until that time, I thought tact was the better part of wisdom. In retrospect, I think Shapiro must have been briefed on the substance of the affidavit before he made his statement this past Sunday afternoon (video below).
I’m about to speak to Pennsylvanians about the arson attack on the Governor’s Residence.
Watch: https://t.co/mGz79YWu8x
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2025
