Daniel Moreno-Gama charged with attempted murder and arson after attack on Sam Altman's home

April 13, 2026
ailawopen-sourcegovernment
Person in gray hoodie using spray can on glass with flames visible, suggesting vandalism.
Photo by cottonbro studio on Pexels

The attack

A 20-year-old Texas man, Daniel Moreno-Gama, has been charged after an alleged attack on OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home and offices. It has been reported that Moreno-Gama allegedly threw an incendiary device — described in filings as a Molotov cocktail — at Altman’s residence on Friday night, then went on to strike the glass doors of OpenAI’s San Francisco headquarters with a chair while allegedly saying he wanted “to burn it down and kill anyone inside.” He was arrested outside the company’s offices. No one was injured.

Charges and investigation

Authorities say the assault “was planned, targeted and extremely serious,” Matt Cobo, acting special agent in charge of the FBI’s San Francisco office, said at a news conference. Moreno-Gama faces state charges including attempted murder and attempted arson, and federal charges such as possession of an unregistered firearm and attempted damage and destruction of property by means of explosives. It has been reported that police found a document on him expressing opposition to artificial intelligence and naming executives and addresses; the complaint allegedly includes threats and statements about killing Altman. The FBI also conducted a raid at Moreno-Gama’s Texas home, and prosecutors say they may pursue domestic terrorism allegations if evidence shows the attacks aimed to coerce policy or officials.

Aftermath and context

The most human moment came when Altman, visibly shaken, posted a photo of his husband and their baby in a blog post, saying he hoped the image might dissuade anyone from attacking his family “no matter what they think about me.” It’s a reminder that the fallout from heated debates about AI is no longer purely academic — executives are in the crosshairs, and law enforcement is treating threats with the full weight of federal and state resources. This is a developing story and details may change as investigators and prosecutors flesh out the case.

Sources: cnn.com