Pennsylvania Suspect Says He Wanted to Beat Governor With Hammer

The Pennsylvania Governor's Mansion after a suspected arson attack in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on April 13.

Photographer: Kyle Mazza/Anadolu/Getty Images
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The 38-year-old who allegedly broke into the mansion of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro on Sunday morning and set it on fire told authorities he would have beaten the governor with a hammer if he’d found him.

After turning himself into authorities, Cody Balmer of Harrisburg told police he walked for about one hour from his residence to the governor’s mansion to carry out the attack, according to an affidavit filed by a state trooper. Balmer said he scaled a perimeter fence, broke two windows and threw Molotov cocktails made with beer bottles.