Pennsylvania state and local lawmakers issued statements Sunday, sending their thoughts and prayers to Gov. Shapiro and his family after police said they believe an “act of arson” was committed following a fire at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. According to a release from state police, fire officials were called to the residence on North Front Street around 2 a.m. following reports of a fire. While the fire was quickly extinguished, the residence sustained significant damage. Police said Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were “present in a different part of the residence” and were all evacuated safely. No injuries were reported.Following the incident, Shapiro issued a statement, saying, in part: Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police.Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished.Multiple Pennsylvania officials have since issued statements regarding the incident, calling for those responsible to be held accountable. “Blayre and I are relieved to know the Shapiro family is safe and unharmed, and I’m confident the State Police will get to the bottom of who perpetrated this crime,” Lieutenant Gov. Austin Davis posted on X. “I won’t speculate on motivations, but I will say that targeting elected officials and their family members with violence is never acceptable.”Davis continued, saying, “These sorts of acts deter good people from pursuing public service at a time when we desperately need more Americans to participate in our democracy.”Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick also called for those responsible to be held accountable, saying in a post on X, “There is no room in America or our Commonwealth for lawlessness, violence, and hatred, and such acts must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”State Senator and leader of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Jay Costa, in a post on X, urged anyone with information to contact Pennsylvania State Police. “My thoughts are with the Shapiro family as they grapple with this unacceptable and disgusting act of violence on the first night of Passover,” Costa said. “I’m grateful to the first responders who showed up and made sure everyone was safe. Please contact them with any information you may have.”In addition, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge issued a statement on X, calling the believed attack a “terribly upsetting event.””The images showing the damage to the home we lived in with our children for nearly eight years is heartbreaking,” Ridge said in the post. “All of us should feel safe in our homes, especially when that home is our state’s official residence.”He continued, saying, “Whoever is responsible for this attack- to both the Shapiro family and our Commonwealth- must be held accountable.”Mark Schweiker, who served as Pennsylvania’s governor from 2001 to 2003, called the incident a “despicable act of cowardice,” thanking first responders for their continued efforts to find those responsible. “This morning’s arson attack at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence, which threatened the lives of Gov. Shapiro and his family, is a despicable act of cowardice,” Schweiker said. “We thank the firefighters who bravely responded to the fire, as well as the Pennsylvania State Police and all law enforcement for their ongoing efforts to bring the coward who attacked the People’s House to justice.”Furthermore, Pittsburgh’s Democratic mayoral candidate Corey O’Connor also thanked first responders in their efforts to keep Shapiro and his family safe. “I’m thankful that the Governor and his family are safe. Targeting elected officials and their families is never acceptable,” O’Connor said in a statement on X. “Thank you to the first responders who quickly arrived at the scene.” Pennsylvania State Police said in a release that officials are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fire. Anyone with information should call 1-800-4PA TIPS (1-800-472-8477).
HARRISBURG, Pa. —Pennsylvania state and local lawmakers issued statements Sunday, sending their thoughts and prayers to Gov. Shapiro and his family after police said they believe an “act of arson” was committed following a fire at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
According to a release from state police, fire officials were called to the residence on North Front Street around 2 a.m. following reports of a fire.
While the fire was quickly extinguished, the residence sustained significant damage.
Police said Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were “present in a different part of the residence” and were all evacuated safely. No injuries were reported.
Following the incident, Shapiro issued a statement, saying, in part:
Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police.
Thank God no one was injured and the fire was extinguished.
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Last night at about 2AM, my family and I woke up to bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set fire to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.
The Harrisburg Bureau of Fire was on the scene and while they worked to put out the fire, we were…
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) April 13, 2025
Multiple Pennsylvania officials have since issued statements regarding the incident, calling for those responsible to be held accountable.
“Blayre and I are relieved to know the Shapiro family is safe and unharmed, and I’m confident the State Police will get to the bottom of who perpetrated this crime,” Lieutenant Gov. Austin Davis posted on X. “I won’t speculate on motivations, but I will say that targeting elected officials and their family members with violence is never acceptable.”
Davis continued, saying, “These sorts of acts deter good people from pursuing public service at a time when we desperately need more Americans to participate in our democracy.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Blayre and I are relieved to know the Shapiro family is safe and unharmed, and I’m confident the State Police will get to the bottom of who perpetrated this crime. I won’t speculate on motivations, but I will say that targeting elected officials and their family members with… https://t.co/OpVgA7EW1C
— Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis (@LGAustinDavis) April 13, 2025
Pennsylvania Senator Dave McCormick also called for those responsible to be held accountable, saying in a post on X, “There is no room in America or our Commonwealth for lawlessness, violence, and hatred, and such acts must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Dina and I are relieved and grateful that Governor Shapiro and his family are safe. We commend Pennsylvania’s first responders and law enforcement officers for their swift actions in keeping everyone safe and containing the situation. There is
no room in America or our… https://t.co/oiajEPLuEf pic.twitter.com/rDCSGr0qYf
— Senator Dave McCormick (@SenMcCormickPA) April 13, 2025
State Senator and leader of the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus Jay Costa, in a post on X, urged anyone with information to contact Pennsylvania State Police.
“My thoughts are with the Shapiro family as they grapple with this unacceptable and disgusting act of violence on the first night of Passover,” Costa said. “I’m grateful to the first responders who showed up and made sure everyone was safe. Please contact them with any information you may have.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
My thoughts are with the Shapiro family as they grapple with this unacceptable and disgusting act of violence on the first night of Passover. I’m grateful to the first responders who showed up and made sure everyone was safe. Please contact them with any information you may have. https://t.co/ZzhoUFIo7q
— Senator Jay Costa (@Senatorcosta) April 13, 2025
In addition, former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge issued a statement on X, calling the believed attack a “terribly upsetting event.”
“The images showing the damage to the home we lived in with our children for nearly eight years is heartbreaking,” Ridge said in the post. “All of us should feel safe in our homes, especially when that home is our state’s official residence.”
He continued, saying, “Whoever is responsible for this attack- to both the Shapiro family and our Commonwealth- must be held accountable.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
Today I share the following thoughts in light of the overnight attack on the Pennsylvania State Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg: pic.twitter.com/gmGPmqtilP
— Gov. Tom Ridge (@GovRidge) April 13, 2025
Mark Schweiker, who served as Pennsylvania’s governor from 2001 to 2003, called the incident a “despicable act of cowardice,” thanking first responders for their continued efforts to find those responsible.
“This morning’s arson attack at the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence, which threatened the lives of Gov. Shapiro and his family, is a despicable act of cowardice,” Schweiker said. “We thank the firefighters who bravely responded to the fire, as well as the Pennsylvania State Police and all law enforcement for their ongoing efforts to bring the coward who attacked the People’s House to justice.”
Furthermore, Pittsburgh’s Democratic mayoral candidate Corey O’Connor also thanked first responders in their efforts to keep Shapiro and his family safe.
“I’m thankful that the Governor and his family are safe. Targeting elected officials and their families is never acceptable,” O’Connor said in a statement on X. “Thank you to the first responders who quickly arrived at the scene.”
This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.
I’m thankful that the Governor and his family are safe. Targeting elected officials and their families is never acceptable. Thank you to the first responders who quickly arrived at the scene. pic.twitter.com/S84S4PdUkg
— Corey O’Connor (@CoreyOConnorpa) April 13, 2025
Pennsylvania State Police said in a release that officials are offering a reward of up to $10,000 for the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the fire.
Anyone with information should call 1-800-4PA TIPS (1-800-472-8477).
