Family of Cody Balmer sought help for him before and after alleged assassination attempt on Governor Josh Shapiro, reporting inadequate response.
In a startling incident that has raised critical questions about law enforcement and mental health care, Cody Balmer, 38, attempted to set fire to the mansion of Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro in the early hours of April 13. Hours after the incident, Balmer contacted 911 expressing his desire to confess to his actions, citing a need for intervention. Balmer communicated distressing accusations, insisting that the governor was personally targeting his family.
Following the fire, Balmer returned to his parents’ home in Penbrook Borough and waited for law enforcement to respond to his calls for help, which ultimately went unanswered. Frustrated, he urged the mother of his children, Rosetta Welsh, to inform authorities about his confession of arson. Despite her efforts to report to state police, no immediate action was taken. Eventually, Balmer walked nearly three miles to the Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters, where he was arrested approximately twelve hours after the crime.
The timeline of Balmer’s arrest raises significant concerns regarding the response times and procedures of local law enforcement agencies, especially given the severity of the crime. Upon arriving at the Penbrook Police Department, Balmer was briefly attended to by officers. However, his ramblings about unrelated subjects led officers to prioritize another call, leaving him unsupervised on a bench. According to Penbrook Police Chief Joseph Hogarth, the department’s limited resources contributed to the failure in addressing Balmer’s situation efficiently.
Balmer’s background and mental health history further complicate the narrative. Diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, his family has observed a disturbing decline in his mental health over the past two years. They report erratic behavior, including delusions and paranoia, culminating in his failed attempts to receive adequate mental health intervention prior to the arson. They sought assistance multiple times, only to be informed that he did not meet the immediate criteria for involuntary commitment.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is advocating for a federal investigation into this incident, suggesting potential hate crime implications given its occurrence on the first night of Passover. However, family members argue that Balmer’s motivations were less about hate and more reflective of his deteriorating mental state.
As the situation unfolds, experts are emphasizing the need for urgent reform in how law enforcement interacts with individuals experiencing mental health crises. The family of Balmer continues to call for accountability from the authorities, lamenting the systemic failures that they believe contributed to this tragic event. They are now left to navigate a justice system that may not adequately address the complexities of mental illness.
The Pennsylvania State Police have initiated an independent security review to analyze the breakdown in safety protocols that allowed Balmer’s trespass. The findings will be crucial in understanding how such a brazen attack on a public official could occur and prevent future incidents.
