An in a single day hearth on the governor’s residence in Pennsylvania is being investigated as arson, the Pennsylvania State Police mentioned Sunday.
Gov. Josh Shapiro and his household have been within the residence on the time of the hearth, which was reported at about 2 a.m. ET.
“The Governor and his household have been current in a distinct a part of the residence. They have been evacuated safely and weren’t injured,” the state police mentioned in a press release.
“My household and I woke as much as bangs on the door from the Pennsylvania State Police after an arsonist set hearth to the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg. The Harrisburg Bureau of Fireplace was on the scene and whereas they labored to place out the hearth, we have been evacuated from the Residence safely by Pennsylvania State Police and assisted by Capitol Police,” Shapiro mentioned in a press release.
Investigators are on the scene after an in a single day hearth on the governor’s official residence on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Picture/Marc Levy)
Marc Levy/AP
“Thank God nobody was injured and the hearth was extinguished,” he added.
The state police mentioned that whereas the investigation is constant, “the State Police is ready to say presently that this was an act of arson.”
The fireplace brought about “a major quantity of injury” to a part of the residence, in response to state police.
As they work to find out a suspect and motive behind the alleged arson assault, authorities are taking a look at whether or not it might have been fueled by the truth that Gov. Shapiro is Jewish and the blaze was set on the primary night time of Passover, a senior legislation enforcement official briefed on the investigation instructed ABC Information.
Governor Josh Shapiro speaks throughout a information convention concerning the capturing at UPMC Memorial Hospital in York, Pa. on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025. (AP Picture/Matt Rourke, File)
Matt Rourke/AP
Simply hours earlier than the hearth, the Pennsylvania governor had posted an image of his household’s Passover Seder desk on X, writing, “From the Shapiro household’s Seder desk to yours, comfortable Passover and Chag Pesach Sameach!”
The Pennsylvania State Police is providing a reward of as much as $10,000 for the arrest and conviction of these answerable for the hearth.
Shapiro was elected Pennsylvania governor in 2022 and was thought-about as vice chairman for 2024 Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris earlier than she ultimately selected Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. Shapiro served two phrases because the state’s lawyer basic earlier than being elected governor.