A man facing accusations of attempting to harm OpenAI CEO Sam Altman by throwing a Molotov cocktail at his residence in San Francisco was reportedly in a state of mental distress, according to his public defender. The defendant, Daniel Moreno-Gama, appeared in court wearing a jail uniform and appearing disheveled. His attorney mentioned that he is autistic and described the case as being exaggerated by prosecutors. The judge ordered Moreno-Gama to be held without bail, scheduling his arraignment for May 5.
Authorities claim that Moreno-Gama, a resident of Spring, Texas, threw the incendiary device at Altman’s home, causing a fire before fleeing the scene. He then allegedly proceeded to OpenAI’s headquarters nearby and made threats of arson. Despite these incidents, no injuries were reported. Moreno-Gama’s defense argued that the charges are inflated, suggesting they are being pushed for Altman’s benefit. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, however, defended the charges, stating they were based on evidence and that justice should be served regardless of the victim’s status.
Moreno-Gama’s parents released a statement expressing concerns about his mental health struggles and emphasizing that he has never harmed anyone. Authorities revealed that the defendant had expressed 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 and he is facing both state and federal charges, including attempted murder and possession of an unregistered firearm. Prosecutors emphasized the severity of the situation, promising to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.