Man charged with attempted murder in Molotov cocktail attack on OpenAI CEO's home

Authorities say 20-year-old Daniel Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas to San Francisco to kill Sam Altman over concerns about AI

Apr. 14, 2026 at 2:35am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a shattered glass bottle against a dark background, conceptually representing the aftermath of a Molotov cocktail attack on a tech leader's home.The charred remains of a Molotov cocktail used in an attack on the home of an AI company CEO highlight the growing tensions over the societal impacts of emerging technology.Houston Today

A 20-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder and other crimes after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in San Francisco. Authorities say Daniel Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas to the city with the intent to kill Altman and a security guard over his concerns about the risks of artificial intelligence.

Why it matters

The attack highlights growing tensions and fears around the rapid development of AI technology, with some individuals taking extreme measures to express their opposition. It also raises questions about the ability of authorities to prevent targeted violence against tech leaders and companies.

The details

According to authorities, Moreno-Gama threw the incendiary device at Altman's home around 4 a.m. on Friday, setting an exterior gate on fire before fleeing. Less than an hour later, he allegedly went to OpenAI's headquarters and threatened to burn down the building. Moreno-Gama faces state charges of attempted murder and attempted arson, as well as federal charges of possession of an unregistered firearm and damage and destruction of property by means of explosives.

  • The attack on Altman's home occurred around 4 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2026.
  • Moreno-Gama allegedly went to OpenAI's headquarters less than an hour after the attack on Altman's home.

The players

Daniel Moreno-Gama

A 20-year-old man from Spring, Texas who is accused of carrying out the Molotov cocktail attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's home and threatening to burn down the company's headquarters.

Sam Altman

The CEO of OpenAI, a prominent artificial intelligence company that has developed advanced language models like ChatGPT.

Brooke Jenkins

The San Francisco District Attorney who announced the state charges against Moreno-Gama.

Matt Cobo

The FBI San Francisco Acting Special Agent in Charge who spoke at a press conference about the case.

Craig Missakian

The U.S. Attorney who said authorities will treat the attack as an act of domestic terrorism.

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What they’re saying

“This was not spontaneous. This was planned, targeted and extremely serious.”

— Matt Cobo, FBI San Francisco Acting Special Agent in Charge

“Violence and intimidation of any kind have no place in the conversation about the future of AI.”

— Anthony Aguirre, President and CEO of the Future of Life Institute

“Normally we try to be pretty private, but in this case I am sharing a photo in the hopes that it might dissuade the next person from throwing a Molotov cocktail at our house, no matter what they think about me.”

— Sam Altman

What’s next

Moreno-Gama is expected to appear in court on Tuesday, April 16, 2026, where a judge will decide whether to allow him to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This attack highlights the growing tensions and fears surrounding the rapid development of AI technology, with some individuals taking extreme measures to express their opposition. It underscores the need for open and constructive dialogue about the societal impacts of AI, as well as the importance of authorities being vigilant in protecting tech leaders and companies from targeted violence.