A man charged with attempted murder for throwing a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman's residence and possessing a kill list targeting the AI CEO has pleaded not guilty.

      **TL;DR** The 20-year-old who tossed a Molotov cocktail at Sam Altman’s house and had a list of AI CEOs he wanted to kill pleaded not guilty to attempted murder. His defense argued it was merely a property crime. The state charges could lead to life in prison.

      Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in San Francisco Superior Court to two counts of attempted murder and nine additional state charges. He is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home and then walking three miles to OpenAI’s headquarters, where he allegedly threatened to burn the building. Moreno-Gama, dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit, did not speak during his brief arraignment. His attorney entered the pleas on his behalf and requested a mental health evaluation, which the judge approved. The defense described the event as merely “a property crime” and accused prosecutors of trying to gain favor with Altman. The state charges carry sentences ranging from 19 years to life. Additionally, federal charges have been filed for possession of an unregistered firearm and attempted destruction of property using explosives, which can add up to 30 more years. The incident has highlighted a growing backlash against artificial intelligence, escalating from protests to physical violence in under two years.

      **The Attack**

      Moreno-Gama was arrested early on April 10 after he allegedly threw a lit Molotov cocktail at Altman’s driveway gate around 4 a.m., igniting it but causing no injuries. Altman was home, and a security guard was present. Moreno-Gama fled but soon arrived at OpenAI’s offices on Third Street, where he allegedly tried to smash the glass doors with a chair and threatened to set the building on fire. San Francisco police found him with additional incendiary devices, kerosene, a blue lighter, and a document titled “Your Last Warning.” This document, said to be written by Moreno-Gama, called for the killing of AI executives and their investors, listing names and addresses of several industry figures. Moreno-Gama warned that artificial intelligence posed a threat to humanity and foresaw “impending extinction.” He traveled from Spring, Texas, where he works part-time at a pizza place and attends community college. The FBI later searched his Texas home.

      **The Second Attack**

      Just two days later, shots were fired at Altman’s home from a passing vehicle, leading to the arrests of a 25-year-old and a 23-year-old. The San Francisco District Attorney’s office stated there was no evidence linking the two incidents, yet the closeness in timing and target felt significant. In under 48 hours, Altman’s home faced two separate attacks from different individuals. In response, the security measures surrounding AI executives, which had already increased due to rising threats, were enhanced further. Altman has not publicly addressed the attacks.

      Threats against other AI leaders have also escalated. In the months before the Molotov cocktail incident, AI executives and European policymakers received packages containing six-fingered gloves—a nod to generative AI’s past struggles with hand depiction—interpreted as warnings. In November 2025, OpenAI employees were told to shelter in place due to threats against staff at their San Francisco office. Collectively, these events have heightened concerns regarding the safety of AI executives and researchers, placing their physical security on par with industry matters like model alignment and regulatory issues.

      **The Context**

      Moreno-Gama’s manifesto illustrates a growing anti-AI sentiment that has shifted from niche online communities to a prominent political and social movement. From April to June 2025, local opposition led to the blocking or delaying of 20 proposed data center projects valued at 98 billion dollars. At least 142 activist groups across 24 U.S. states are now mobilizing against data center development. In February 2026, hundreds protested outside the London headquarters of major AI companies, marking one of the largest anti-AI demonstrations to date. In Nepal, demonstrators torched a data center, disrupting nationwide internet service. Public opinion polls consistently reveal that a majority of Americans view the progression of AI with concern rather than hope.

      The frustration has been exacerbated by OpenAI’s safety missteps. Altman publicly apologized when it was revealed that OpenAI opted not to alert authorities about a ChatGPT user flagged for a school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, which resulted in eight fatalities and 27 injuries. Although around a dozen OpenAI employees reviewed the flagged account and some recommended reporting it, leadership decided against it. Seven families have sued OpenAI for ChatGPT being what they labeled a “suicide coach,” citing documented fatalities in Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Oregon. The disparity between the industry’s safety claims and its decision-making has given the anti-AI movement concrete grievances that extend beyond abstract fears of extinction.

      **The Defense**

      Moreno-Gama’s lawyer claimed that he