Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recounted how he had to flee his residence in his pajamas along with family and guests after an arsonist attempted to ignite the house.
Speaking to ABC News outside the burned area, the governor said he concluded the Passover Seder "maybe around 10ish or so." People ended the evening a few hours later, with Shapiro saying he "probably fell asleep around 1 o'clock in the morning."
However, he was woken up by state troopers less than an hour later. "I heard yelling in the hallway, which was not like our kids' voices. It was one of the state troopers running down the hallway, and he banged on the door," the governor said. They were told there was a fire and they had to evacuate right away.
"I would say within just a few seconds we ran to each of the doors in the hallway, to open them up and get the kids up, get the dogs up and usher everybody down a back stairwell," Shapiro recounted. "And we followed the troopers out to the driveway area, and we were asked multiple times if everyone was present and accounted for. They were. Troopers and Capitol Police kept us safe."
Shapiro went on to recall that people were "a little chilly" because "everybody was in their pajamas," but they "kind of huddled up and just tried to keep the kids calm and keep everybody calm."
After assessing the damages, which authorities have estimated in the millions of dollars, Shapiro said that "to see those spots that are charred and burned out and glass broken around the areas that before were happy, special places for us is tough."
Investigators revealed on Monday that the arsonist, 38-year-old Cody Balmer, was largely motivated by financial issues but also harbored hatred toward Shapiro. He also referenced Palestinians in a 911 call that day, court documents show.
Balmer used Molotov cocktails to start the fire, the criminal complaint against him detailed, throwing them inside the mansion after breaking a window with a hammer. He also told authorities he was planning on beating Shapiro with the tool had he ran into him. Balmer is now facing several charges, including attempted murder, arson, burglary and terrorism intended to coerce "the conduct of a government."
Shapiro said President Donald Trump has not reached out to him following the episode. A report by NBC News recalled that Shapiro did condemn the assassination attempt against Trump last July during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, saying that "violence targeted at any political party or political leader is absolutely unacceptable."
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