A public defender representing the man accused of targeting OpenAI CEO Sam Altman with a Molotov cocktail at his San Francisco residence stated that the suspect was in a mental health crisis and is facing exaggerated charges from prosecutors. The defendant, Daniel Moreno-Gama, appeared in court for the first time wearing an orange jail uniform and looking disheveled. His lawyer mentioned that he is autistic and during the brief hearing, Moreno-Gama agreed to continue his arraignment. The judge ordered him to be held without bail until his next court date on May 5.
According to authorities, Moreno-Gama from Spring, Texas, allegedly threw the incendiary device at Altman’s home, causing a fire before fleeing the scene. He then reportedly made threats at the OpenAI headquarters nearby. Despite no injuries reported at either location, Moreno-Gama faces both state and federal charges.
The defense attorney argued that the case should be viewed as a property crime rather than an attempted murder case as prosecutors claim. The San Francisco District Attorney defended the charges, stating that evidence supports the severity of the accusations and that justice should be served regardless of the victim’s status.
Moreno-Gama’s parents expressed concern for their son, mentioning his recent mental health struggles and emphasizing that he has never harmed anyone before. Authorities revealed that Moreno-Gama had expressed animosity towards artificial intelligence in his writings, describing it as a threat to humanity.
The suspect faces two counts of attempted murder and attempted arson in state court, with potential penalties of 19 years to life in prison. Additionally, federal charges include possession of an unregistered firearm and property damage by explosives, carrying penalties of up to 10 and 20 years in prison, respectively.
The FBI conducted a search at Moreno-Gama’s residence in Texas, and federal authorities are treating the case as an act of domestic terrorism. The suspect’s writings also contained threats against Altman and executives of other AI companies. Advocacy groups warning about the risks of AI denounced the violent actions.