HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A man scaled a steel fence in the middle of the night to evade police and used a beer bottle filled with gasoline to ignite the building he had occupied. Pennsylvania Governor’s Mansion He pleaded guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and other charges.
Cody Ballmer, 38, also faces terrorism charges, including 22 counts of arson, aggravated arson, robbery and aggravated assault on the governor. Josh ShapiroThe April 13 attack, which caused millions of dollars in damage to a state-owned brick building, resulted in 21 counts of reckless endangerment and loitering.
Under a plea agreement, Ballmer was sentenced to 25 to 50 years in prison.
Shapiro and his family had to go through this. I woke up and evacuated.but no one was injured. The multiple arson and endangerment charges reflected the number of people in the mansion at the time, including the governor’s family, guests and state troopers.
The fire was set hours after the Jewish holiday of Passover was celebrated with a Seder at the residence. Prosecutors played video clips showing Molotov cocktails exploding and people inside and outside the mansion. Judge Deborah Curcillo said the video was “horrifying” and “very frightening”.
Ballmer told police he intended to hit Shapiro with a small hammer if he encountered him after entering the building, according to court documents. balmer turned himself in The next afternoon, he was charged with attempted murder, terrorism, aggravated arson, and aggravated assault.
Police said Ballmer entered the residence through the south wing of the residence and entered a room often used for entertaining crowds and displaying art. Investigators recovered two broken glass beer bottles containing gasoline. The fire scorched walls, tables, buffet plates, dishes and a piano. Window glass and bricks around doors and windows were also damaged.
Shapiro’s Jewish faith and Passover weekend attack come to light Questions about Mr. Ballmer’s motivesBut Ballmer told The Associated Press in a May letter from prison that that was not a factor in his decision.
“I don’t care if he’s a Jew or a Muslim or a purple-eater, as long as he leaves me and me alone, no matter what I care about,” Ballmer wrote.
He said in a brief video interview June 9 at Camp Hill State Prison that he had thought ahead of time about the possibility of children being injured.
“Has anyone ever thought about kids?” Ballmer said in June. “That doesn’t seem to be the case. It really was. I’m glad no one got hurt.” When asked why he felt Shapiro had wronged him in any way, Ballmer said, “I’m not going to answer that.”
Ballmer’s mother said that in the days following his arrest, she tried to get help from Ballmer. mental health issuesbut “no one will help me.” Court proceedings were delayed while he was there. received mental health treatmentsaid his lawyer.
At a court hearing days after the fire, Ballmer told the judge he was an unemployed welder with no income or savings and had “a bunch of kids.”
The house, built in 1968, had no sprinklers. work on repair damage And to Enhance security Features Continue.
