Texas Man Charged in Molotov Attack on OpenAI CEO's San Francisco Home

Daniel Moreno-Gama accused of throwing incendiary device at Sam Altman's residence and threatening to burn down AI company's offices

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:54pm

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An extreme close-up of a charred, melted glass bottle with a blackened wick, conceptually illustrating the aftermath of a Molotov cocktail attack without depicting actual violence.The aftermath of a targeted attack on an AI leader's home exposes the dangerous extremism surrounding emerging technologies.Spring Today

A 20-year-old man from Spring, Texas has been charged with attempted murder and arson after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and later threatening to burn down the AI company's headquarters. Authorities say the suspect, Daniel Moreno-Gama, expressed hatred of artificial intelligence and warned of 'impending extinction' in writings prior to the attack.

Why it matters

The attack on Altman's home and threats against OpenAI highlight growing concerns about the potential risks and backlash against advanced AI technology as it becomes more prominent in society. This incident raises questions about the security of AI leaders and companies, as well as the need to address extremist views and violent rhetoric around emerging technologies.

The details

According to authorities, Moreno-Gama traveled from Texas to San Francisco last week and on Friday threw a Molotov cocktail at Altman's home, setting an exterior gate on fire before fleeing. Less than an hour later, he went to OpenAI's headquarters and threatened to burn down the building. No one was injured in either incident. Moreno-Gama has been charged in state court with two counts 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.

  • On April 14, 2026, Daniel Moreno-Gama allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's San Francisco home.
  • Less than an hour later on April 14, 2026, Moreno-Gama went to OpenAI's headquarters and threatened to burn down the building.

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 AI company's offices.

Sam Altman

The CEO of OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research company, who was the apparent target of the Molotov cocktail attack on his San Francisco home.

Matt Cobo

The FBI San Francisco Acting Special Agent in Charge who described the attack as 'planned, targeted and extremely serious.'

Brooke Jenkins

The San Francisco District Attorney who said the state charges against Moreno-Gama carry penalties ranging from 19 years to life in prison.

Craig Missakian

The U.S. Attorney who said the federal charges against Moreno-Gama will be treated as an act of domestic terrorism and he will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

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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

“We will treat this as an act of domestic terrorism, and together with our partners, prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.”

— Craig Missakian, U.S. Attorney

What’s next

Moreno-Gama is scheduled to make his initial court appearance on Tuesday to face the state charges. Federal prosecutors have also charged him with possession of an unregistered firearm and damage and destruction of property by means of explosives, which carry penalties of up to 10 and 20 years in prison respectively.

The takeaway

This attack highlights the growing tensions and extremist views surrounding the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology, and the need for robust security measures to protect AI leaders and companies from potential violence. It also underscores the importance of addressing radicalization and the spread of misinformation about the risks of AI.