A man has been accused of trying to kill OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and a security guard by throwing a Molotov cocktail at Altman’s home, according to San Francisco district attorney Brooke Jenkins. The suspect, identified as Daniel Moreno-Gama, allegedly ignited an exterior gate at Altman’s residence in the early hours of Friday before fleeing the scene. Shortly after, Moreno-Gama reportedly made threats to set fire to OpenAI’s headquarters located a few kilometers away.
Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old individual from Spring, Texas, has been charged with attempted murder and attempted arson in California state court. The charges against him in federal court include possession of an unregistered firearm and damage and destruction of property by explosives. Authorities found incendiary devices, kerosene, a lighter, and a document in his possession when arrested by San Francisco police.
Despite not naming Altman or OpenAI directly, both entities confirmed being the targets of the attack. Surveillance footage showed Moreno-Gama approaching Altman’s home and later attempting to damage the glass doors at OpenAI’s headquarters. The suspect expressed anti-artificial intelligence sentiments in a document found on him during the arrest. Authorities have labeled the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and vowed to prosecute Moreno-Gama to the fullest extent of the law.
Altman, responding to the incident, shared a photo of his family and emphasized the need to de-escalate tensions surrounding AI discussions. Various advocacy groups denounced the violence, reiterating the importance of peaceful dialogues on the risks of artificial intelligence. Discord has banned Moreno-Gama for his off-platform behavior, and investigations into the case are ongoing.
The suspect is currently held in San Francisco County Jail awaiting court proceedings on Tuesday. Jenkins highlighted the seriousness of the charges, indicating potential penalties of up to 19 years to life in prison for the state charges and up to 20 years for the federal charges.