New surveillance video shows Pennsylvania governor's mansion arson attack

New surveillance video published Tuesday shows an arsonist setting fire to Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro s mansion with flaming Molotov cocktails in April The Dauphin County District Attorney s Office shared the video shortly after suspect Cody Balmer pleaded guilty to all charges including attempted murder aggravated arson burglary terrorism and other related offenses He was sentenced to to years in prison Balmer set the fire at around a m on April after Shapiro and his family celebrated the first night of the Jewish holiday of Passover Shapiro and his family were asleep at the time of the event The video shows Balmer walking on the property and urgent one of the residence s glass windows with a sledgehammer agents revealed He then threw a flaming Molotov cocktail inside setting the mansion ablaze SUSPECT IN ARSON ATTACK AT PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR S MANSION PLEADS GUILTYBalmer uses the sledgehammer to break a second window and climb through to enter the residence according to the video Balmer was seen striking multiple doors with the sledgehammer but was unable to break through Officers announced one of the doors led to where Shapiro s family and guests slept While still inside Balmer is seen throwing a second Molotov cocktail into the dining area igniting a second fire before running out of the residence through an exit door TIMELINE OF THE PALISADES FIRE MANHUNT FROM ALLEGED MIDNIGHT SPARK TO FLORIDA ARRESTAuthorities explained at the time of his arrest that Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro He allegedly declared he planned to attack Shapiro with his hammer if he were to find the governor in the mansion Shapiro spoke at a press conference Tuesday following Balmer s guilty plea calling for real accountability for acts of political violence while also asking the population to not grow numb to such actions Sadly as you know our family is not the only ones to experience political violence violence that is used to try and silence people or intimidate people the governor noted I think it's central that in this time of rising political violence that none of us grow numb to it or accept this as the normal class of doing business for elected leaders