A public defender stated on Tuesday that the individual accused of attempting to harm OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by throwing a Molotov cocktail at his residence in San Francisco was going through a mental health crisis and is facing excessive charges from prosecutors. During his initial court appearance, Daniel Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old from Spring, Texas, dressed in an orange jail outfit with unkempt hair, appeared subdued and agreed to continue his arraignment. The judge ordered him to remain in custody without bail until his arraignment on May 5.
According to reports, Moreno-Gama allegedly tossed the incendiary device at Altman’s home, causing a gate to catch fire before fleeing the scene. Shortly after, he reportedly went to OpenAI’s headquarters nearby and made threats against the building. Despite no injuries being reported, the accused is facing both state and federal charges.
The defense attorney argued that Moreno-Gama’s actions should be considered a property crime rather than attempted murder, accusing prosecutors of escalating the charges to gain favor with Altman. However, the San Francisco District Attorney defended the charges, stating that there is evidence supporting the allegations and emphasizing the importance of seeking justice regardless of the victim’s status.
Moreno-Gama’s parents released a statement expressing concern for their son’s well-being, mentioning his recent struggles with mental health issues. Authorities revealed that the suspect, who holds a part-time job at a pizzeria and attends community college, expressed strong animosity towards artificial intelligence in his writings, labeling it as a threat to humanity.
The FBI conducted a search at Moreno-Gama’s residence in Texas, where they found evidence related to the case. The accused faces state charges of attempted murder and attempted arson, with potential penalties of up to life in prison. Additionally, federal charges have been filed against him for possessing an unregistered firearm and causing property damage with explosives, carrying penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
Law enforcement officials have labeled the incident as an act of domestic terrorism and pledged to prosecute Moreno-Gama to the fullest extent of the law. The suspect has not yet appeared in federal court, and the federal documents do not indicate legal representation for him. Reports suggest that Moreno-Gama’s writings included threats against Altman and executives from other AI companies, prompting concerns from advocacy groups regarding the dangers of AI-related violence.