Suspect Photos Released in Molotov Cocktail Attack on Sam Altman’s Home

Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama, a 20-year-old man, has been charged with attempted murder and arson following an attack on the San Francisco residence of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on April 10, 2026.

The incident occurred at approximately 3:40 a.m. At Altman’s home located on Chestnut Street in the Russian Hill neighborhood. According to police reports, Moreno-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail—described as a bottle containing a flaming rag—at the metal gate of the property.

Security guards stationed at the residence were able to extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported as a result of the arson attack and surveillance cameras captured the suspect during the incident.

Threats at OpenAI Headquarters

Less than an hour after the attack on the residence, security personnel at OpenAI’s headquarters in the Mission Bay district encountered an individual matching the description of the suspect. The individual reportedly made threatening statements regarding the building before being taken into custody by police on the afternoon of April 10, 2026.

Following his arrest, Moreno-Gama was booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, arson, and the possession or manufacture of an incendiary device.

Legal Charges and Federal Investigation

On April 13, 2026, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that Moreno-Gama has been charged with attempting to kill both Sam Altman and a security guard present at the residence.

The investigation expanded to federal authorities, leading to additional charges brought by federal prosecutors. Moreno-Gama faces federal charges for the possession of an unregistered firearm and the damage and destruction of property by means of explosives.

As part of the federal probe, FBI agents conducted a raid on April 13, 2026, at a property connected to Moreno-Gama in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston. Agents spent several hours at the scene before departing. Neighbors in the Texas community described the homeowners as being involved with their church.

This was not spontaneous. This was planned, targeted and extremely serious.

Matt Cobo, FBI San Francisco Acting Special Agent in Charge

Motive and Anti-AI Sentiment

Court documents indicate that the attack was motivated by the suspect’s opposition to artificial intelligence. When Moreno-Gama was arrested on April 10, 2026, officials discovered a document in his possession that identified views opposed to AI and the executives of various AI companies.

The document detailed the suspect’s beliefs regarding the purported risk that artificial intelligence poses to humanity, specifically mentioning our impending extinction.

Following the attack, Sam Altman shared a photo of his family and suggested that the incident was linked to the broader public debate surrounding the development and risks of AI.