38-year-old suspect to be charged with attempted murder
By Mike Wereschagin, Ford Turner and Megan Tomasic, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
An arsonist armed with homemade incendiary devices slipped past security, broke into the Pennsylvania Governor’s Residence while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family were sleeping, and set a fire in the room where the state’s first family had celebrated the beginning of Passover with a Seder just hours earlier, officials said Sunday.
Police arrested a 38-year-old and planned to charge him with attempted murder, arson and aggravated assault, officials said during a news conference late Sunday afternoon just outside the Harrisburg mansion. The southwest exterior of the brick building was visibly scorched, with windows broken and the interior of the corner room blackened and heavily damaged by the fire.
Mr. Shapiro, his voice by turns cracking with emotion and rising with anger, recounted the moments when State Police officers pounded on the doors to wake him, his wife, their children and the family members who were staying with them as the blaze spread through a portion of the building.
“This type of violence is not OK. This kind of violence is becoming far too common in our society,” Mr. Shapiro said, flanked by state and local law enforcement officials. “I don’t give a damn if it’s coming from one side or the other. It is not OK and it has to stop.”
Related fire news:
Police announced late Sunday that a person is in custody after the home of Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was set on fire while he and his family were inside. NBC News’ Maya Eaglin has the latest. Click arrow in image above
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