A 38-year-old man has been arrested and faces multiple charges, including attempted murder, terrorism, and attempted arson, following a deliberate fire early Sunday that caused significant damage to the Pennsylvania governor’s mansion and forced Gov. Josh Shapiro, his family, and guests to flee.

Authorities identified the suspect as Cody Balmer of Harrisburg. According to Pennsylvania State Police, Balmer scaled a security fence, forcibly entered the residence, and ignited a fire using a homemade incendiary device. The attack appeared to be premeditated, said Deputy Police Commissioner George Bivens.

Gov. Shapiro recounted being awakened around 2 a.m. by state troopers. He, his wife, their four children, two dogs, and another family who had joined them for a Passover Seder were safely evacuated as the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire worked to extinguish the blaze. No injuries were reported.

The fire broke out in the very room where the Passover celebration had been held just hours earlier. “I’m obviously emotional,” Shapiro said. “When we were in the state dining room last night, we told the story of Passover and the Jewish exodus from bondage. I refuse to be trapped by the bondage that someone attempted to put on me by attacking us as they did last night.”

The mansion, located along the Susquehanna River, sustained significant damage, especially to its southern section often used for receptions and art displays. On Sunday, scorched walls, shattered windows, and a heavy police presence marked the scene, as investigators combed through evidence. A portion of the security fence was removed and taken away wrapped in plastic for further examination.

District Attorney Francis Chardo confirmed that Balmer will be charged with attempted murder, terrorism, attempted arson, and aggravated assault. State police said the investigation is ongoing.

Shapiro, seen as a rising figure in the Democratic Party and a potential 2028 presidential contender, said he had received offers of assistance from the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, along with messages of support from governors and officials across the country.

The governor divides his time between the mansion—built in the 1960s and serving as the official residence of Pennsylvania’s governors—and his family home in Abington, located about 100 miles east. Just hours before the attack, he had shared a photo of the family’s Seder table on social media.

Former Republican Governor Mark Schweiker condemned the attack as a “despicable act of cowardice” and urged Pennsylvanians to keep the Shapiro family in their prayers.