5 months ago
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(NewsNation) — Prosecutors judge spiritual bias was a origin successful the arson onslaught connected Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's mansion portion the politician and his household slept inside, Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo told NewsNation.
"We bash judge that determination was a spiritual bias involved, and we're going to prosecute that successful our prosecution," Chardo said Tuesday, citing grounds from hunt warrants indicating the suspect focused connected "Palestine and the governor's views connected Israel."
Cody Balmer is being held without bail connected charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary and coercion pursuing the aboriginal Sunday attack, which occurred hours aft Shapiro and his household celebrated Passover.
Chardo said Balmer admitted helium "harbored hatred" for Shapiro and told authorities helium would person "beaten him with a hammer" if helium had encountered the politician during the incident.
While Pennsylvania has an taste intimidation statute that functions arsenic a hatred transgression enhancement, Chardo explained that adding specified charges would not summation the severity of punishment since Balmer already faces 5 first-degree felonies. However, prosecutors program to usage bias-based discourtesy provisions successful sentencing guidelines if Balmer is convicted.
Cody Balmer is being held without bail connected charges of attempted murder, aggravated arson, burglary and coercion pursuing the aboriginal Sunday attack, which occurred hours aft Shapiro and his household celebrated Passover.
This representation provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows harm aft a occurrence astatine the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion portion Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his household slept wrong connected Sunday, April 13, 2025, successful Harrisburg, Pa. (Commonwealth Media Services via AP)
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro speaks during a quality league astatine the governor's authoritative residence astir a suspected arson occurrence that forced him, his household and guests to fly successful the mediate of the nighttime connected the Jewish vacation of Passover, Sunday, April 13, 2025, successful Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy)
This representation provided by Commonwealth Media Services shows harm aft a occurrence astatine the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion portion Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and his household slept wrong connected Sunday, April 13, 2025, successful Harrisburg, Pa. (Commonwealth Media Services via AP)
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES - APRIL 13: Police enactment cordon is seen astatine Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion aft a suspected arson onslaught caused important harm successful Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States connected April 13, 2025. Governor Josh Shapiro held a property league aboriginal successful the time to code the incidental and reassure the public. At astir 2:00 a.m., the Harrisburg Fire Department responded to a occurrence astatine the Governor's Residence, located connected North Front Street successful Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. Crews rapidly contained and extinguished the fire, which damaged a information of the historical residence. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES - APRIL 13: A presumption of the harm aft an arsonist sets occurrence to the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence successful a targeted onslaught successful Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States connected April 13, 2025. Governor Josh Shapiro held a property league aboriginal successful the time to code the incidental and reassure the public. At astir 2:00 a.m., the Harrisburg Fire Department responded to a occurrence astatine the Governor's Residence, located connected North Front Street successful Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. Crews rapidly contained and extinguished the fire, which damaged a information of the historical residence. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES - APRIL 13: A presumption of the harm aft an arsonist sets occurrence to the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence successful a targeted onslaught successful Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States connected April 13, 2025. Governor Josh Shapiro held a property league aboriginal successful the time to code the incidental and reassure the public. At astir 2:00 a.m., the Harrisburg Fire Department responded to a occurrence astatine the Governor's Residence, located connected North Front Street successful Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. Crews rapidly contained and extinguished the fire, which damaged a information of the historical residence. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES - APRIL 13: A presumption of the harm aft an arsonist sets occurrence to the Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence successful a targeted onslaught successful Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, United States connected April 13, 2025. Governor Josh Shapiro held a property league aboriginal successful the time to code the incidental and reassure the public. At astir 2:00 a.m., the Harrisburg Fire Department responded to a occurrence astatine the Governor's Residence, located connected North Front Street successful Harrisburg City, Dauphin County. Crews rapidly contained and extinguished the fire, which damaged a information of the historical residence. (Photo by Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The territory lawyer noted that Balmer's determination to crook himself successful to constabulary aft the onslaught could really fortify the prosecution's lawsuit by demonstrating competence and undermining imaginable insanity claims.
"He knew what helium was doing was incorrect and that the constabulary would beryllium looking for him," Chardo told NewsNation.
Law enforcement had visited Balmer's parents' home, wherever helium lived, days earlier the attack, but nary enactment could beryllium taken due to the fact that nary threats were made astatine that time. Balmer's parent has indicated helium struggled with intelligence wellness issues.
The lawsuit volition adjacent determination to a preliminary hearing.
