Suspect Accused of Attacking OpenAI CEO's Home During Mental Health Crisis

20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama faces attempted murder and arson charges for alleged attack on Sam Altman's house and office.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 11:09pm by

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An extreme close-up photograph of a damaged metal gate or security camera, the harsh flash creating dramatic shadows and highlights that convey a sense of investigation and urgency around the incident.A targeted attack on a prominent tech leader's home exposes vulnerabilities in the security of Silicon Valley's elite.San Francisco Today

A 20-year-old man named Daniel Moreno-Gama is accused of traveling from Texas to San Francisco to target OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his company. Authorities say Moreno-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman's home and threatened to burn down OpenAI's office building, though no one was harmed. Moreno-Gama's attorneys say he was in the midst of a mental health crisis at the time of the alleged attacks.

Why it matters

The incident has raised concerns about the security of tech leaders and their companies, as well as the need for better mental health support and crisis intervention. It also highlights the challenges of protecting high-profile individuals from targeted attacks.

The details

According to prosecutors, Moreno-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman's home in the Russian Hill neighborhood before threatening to burn down OpenAI's Mission Bay office building. While there was some damage to a gate at Altman's house, no one was harmed in either incident. Moreno-Gama was arrested outside the OpenAI office after ramming a chair into the building's glass doors and threatening to kill anyone inside. Police say he was carrying additional incendiary devices, kerosene, and a lighter at the time.

  • On Friday morning, Moreno-Gama allegedly attacked Altman's home and threatened OpenAI's office.
  • Moreno-Gama was arrested outside the OpenAI office on Friday.

The players

Daniel Moreno-Gama

A 20-year-old man accused of traveling from Texas to San Francisco to target OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and his company.

Sam Altman

The CEO of OpenAI, a prominent artificial intelligence company.

OpenAI

A major artificial intelligence company based in San Francisco.

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What they’re saying

“Daniel is entitled to due process and fair proceedings. Myself, as well as my co-counsel and the rest of my team will zealously defend Daniel and seek a just outcome in this case.”

— Ward, Moreno-Gama's attorney

“The defendant is alleged to have traveled across state lines with the intent to go target an individual and a major technology company. This was not spontaneous. This was planned, targeted, and extremely serious.”

— Matt Cobo, FBI acting special agent in charge of San Francisco

What’s next

Moreno-Gama will remain in custody without bail until his arraignment in May. A court date for the federal charges has not yet been set.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for improved mental health support and crisis intervention, as well as the challenges of protecting high-profile individuals from targeted attacks. It also raises questions about the security of tech leaders and their companies.