Overview
Daniel Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old from Spring, Texas, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder and nine other state charges after allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail at the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on April 10. According to court filings, Moreno-Gama also walked three miles to OpenAI’s headquarters, where he attempted to break in and threatened to burn the building down. He was found in possession of additional incendiary devices, a jug of kerosene, a blue lighter, and a document titled “Your Last Warning,” which listed names and addresses of AI executives and investors and advocated for their killing. The state charges carry penalties ranging from 19 years to life in prison. Federal prosecutors have filed separate charges for possession of an unregistered firearm and attempted destruction of property by means of explosives, which carry a combined maximum of 30 additional years.
What it does
The attack marks a significant escalation in anti-AI sentiment, transitioning from online discourse and protest to physical violence. Moreno-Gama, who works part-time at a pizzeria and attends community college, described artificial intelligence as an existential threat to humanity, according to prosecutors. His manifesto, cited in court documents, warned of “impending extinction” and targeted key figures in the AI industry. The incident occurred just hours before a separate, unrelated drive-by shooting at Altman’s home, in which two individuals were arrested. The San Francisco District Attorney’s office stated there is no evidence linking the two events.
In the broader context, anti-AI activism has grown in scale and intensity. Between April and June 2025, 98 billion dollars’ worth of proposed data centre projects were blocked or delayed due to local opposition. At least 142 activist groups across 24 US states are now organizing against data centre construction. In February 2026, hundreds marched past the London offices of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Meta. In Nepal, a data centre in Kathmandu was set on fire, disrupting national internet access. AI executives have also received threatening packages containing six-fingered gloves—a symbolic reference to AI’s historical difficulty rendering hands—interpreted as warnings.
Tradeoffs
Moreno-Gama’s defense has characterized the incident as “a property crime, at best,” arguing that no one was injured and that the Molotov cocktail struck only a gate. The defense has requested a mental health evaluation, which the judge granted. Prosecutors counter that the presence of Altman and a security guard, combined with the kill list and subsequent threat to OpenAI’s headquarters, demonstrates premeditated intent to commit murder. The FBI has searched Moreno-Gama’s Texas residence,