[United States] Violence against civilians: Attack

On 13 April 2025, a man broke windows and set fire to the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg (Pennsylvania) using homemade incendiary devices. Governor Josh Shapiro (D) and his family were evacuated and did not sustain injuries. The Governor had hosted a Passover dinner the night before. The arsonist, who expressed pro-Palestine sentiment, later turned himself in and cited Shapiro's support for Israel as a motivation for the fire, claiming that Shapiro needed to 'stop the killing of Palestinians.' The perpetrator also carried a hammer and said he would have beaten the governor if he'd encountered him. The fire caused significant damage to several rooms. The perpetrator is charged with attempted criminal homicide, aggravated arson, burglary, and terrorism. The DA and other groups have called the attack a hate crime, but the attacker has not been charged with a hate crime. Three days before the incident, the perpetrator's mother called local police to request her son be committed to a medical facility for psychiatric treatment on mental health grounds, citing his irritable and erratic behavior. Officers who met him on that day said they didn't have enough information to commit him. After his arrest, the perpetrator told a judge he does not suffer from a mental health condition.

Severity

MEDIUM

Occurred

2025-04-13

Country

United States

Event type

violence

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