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On April 10 — just three days before the Molotov cocktail attack that forced Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family to evacuate — Balmer’s mother, Christie, contacted the Penbrook Police Department to report that her son had left home without explanation. She told officers that she believed he stopped taking his medications about a year ago and described his behavior as “irritable and agitated.”
Christie Balmer had previously contacted Crisis Intervention on April 6, but because Cody had not made threats to harm himself or others, he didn’t meet the legal threshold for an involuntary psychiatric evaluation, commonly known as a 302 hold.
“She stated that Cody was upset she called Crisis,” the release reads. She also noted that he had “run off” to different states in the past, and that his brother was not concerned about his well-being.
Penbrook officers located the hotel in Shippensburg where Balmer had been staying, but by the time they arrived, he had checked out. The front desk clerk told police that Balmer “appeared fine.”
Pennsylvania law limits when a person can be involuntarily committed. Police and physicians can only initiate a 302 without a warrant if they personally observe a person acting in a way that presents a clear danger to themselves or others, or if they are incapable of basic self-care. Hearsay — including concerns expressed by family — does not meet that standard.
Just three days after his mother’s call, Balmer allegedly used a hammer to smash a window at the Governor’s Residence and threw in multiple Molotov cocktails, igniting several fires while Shapiro and his family were inside. He later admitted to the attack, and is currently hospitalized following a medical event unrelated to the incident, police said.
You can read the full details of the confession, the firebombing, and his arrest here and view shocking photos of the fire damage here.
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