SF DA Brooke Jenkins Rejects Overcharging Claims in Altman Case

A 20-year-old man has been ordered held without bail after being accused of attempting to kill OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by throwing a Molotov cocktail at his San Francisco home. The suspect, identified as Daniel Moreno-Gama, appeared in court on April 14, 2026, where he faces both state and federal charges.

According to prosecutors, Moreno-Gama attempted to firebomb the residence hours before dawn on Friday, April 11, 2026. The attack resulted in a fire at the home’s front gate, which was promptly extinguished by security guards. No injuries were reported during the incident.

Legal Charges and Court Proceedings

Moreno-Gama faces state charges including attempted murder, arson, and possession of an explosive device. He is also facing similar charges in federal court. During the proceedings on April 14, 2026, Judge Kenneth Wine ordered that the defendant be held without bail.

The judge also issued a protective order requiring Moreno-Gama to remain away from individuals he allegedly indicated he intended to target. The defendant agreed to postpone his arraignment until May 5, 2026, to allow his public defenders additional time to prepare the case.

Defense Claims of Mental Health Crisis

Public Defender Diamond Ward argued that Moreno-Gama was experiencing an acute mental health crisis at the time of the attack. Ward stated that the 20-year-old, who is from Texas, is on the autism spectrum and has no prior criminal history. Before the incident, Moreno-Gama was attending community college and working part-time at a pizzeria.

The defense has contended that the case is being overcharged as a property crime rather than reflecting the suspect’s mental state. However, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins rejected these characterizations.

targeted attack on Mr. Altman

Brooke Jenkins, San Francisco District Attorney

Jenkins stated that the charges were not influenced by the status of the victim and that her office had no reason to believe Moreno-Gama has mental health issues. She further asserted that prosecutors would pursue the case in the same manner regardless of who the victim was.

Evidence and Motive

Prosecutors allege the attack was a targeted effort backed by a manifesto written by Moreno-Gama. The document reportedly urged others to target tech leaders. In the manifesto, the suspect wrote that if he was going to advocate for others to kill and commit crimes, then I must lead by example and show that I am sincere in my message.

Authorities also allege that Moreno-Gama threatened to burn down the headquarters of OpenAI. Surveillance footage reportedly shows the suspect throwing the Molotov cocktail outside of Altman’s home.

The investigation has extended to Texas, where the FBI conducted a raid on April 13, 2026, at a home in Spring, Texas, connected to the suspect.