Man accused of firebombing Sam Altman's home pleads not guilty amid rising anti-AI violence

Suspect Pleads Not Guilty to Attempted Murder Charges

Daniel Alejandro Morena-Gama, the 20-year-old accused of attacking Sam Altman's San Francisco residence, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to attempted murder and attempted arson charges during his arraignment in state court 1

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. Wearing an orange jail uniform, Morena-Gama remained silent as his attorney entered the pleas on his behalf and requested a mental health evaluation, which the judge granted 1

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. The Texas resident faces 11 state charges in total, with penalties ranging from 19 years to life in prison, plus separate federal charges carrying a combined maximum of 30 additional years 2

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Attack on Sam Altman's Home and OpenAI Headquarters

Authorities allege that Morena-Gama threw a Molotov cocktail at the OpenAI CEO's home around 4 a.m. on April 10, setting an exterior gate alight before fleeing on foot 1

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. Sam Altman was home at the time, and a security guard was stationed at the property, though no injuries were reported . Less than an hour later, Morena-Gama arrived at OpenAI headquarters about 3 miles away, where he allegedly attempted to break glass doors with a chair and threatened to burn down the building 1

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. Police who responded found him carrying additional incendiary devices, a jug of kerosene, a blue lighter, and a document entitled "Your Last Warning" 2

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AI CEO Kill List and Anti-AI Sentiments

According to court filings, the document discovered in Morena-Gama's possession advocated for killing AI company executives and their investors, including an AI CEO kill list with names and addresses purportedly belonging to multiple industry leaders 2

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. The suspect expressed hatred of artificial intelligence in his writings, describing it as a danger to humanity and warning of "impending extinction" 1

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. Morena-Gama, who works part-time at a pizzeria and attends community college in Spring, Texas, had traveled from the Houston suburb specifically to carry out the attack 2

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Defense Claims Property Crime Amid Mental Health Crisis

Defense attorney Diamond Ward, a San Francisco deputy public defender, characterized the incident as "a property crime, at best" and accused prosecutors of trying to curry favor with Altman 1

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. Ward stated that Morena-Gama was experiencing a mental health crisis and had been excessively charged 1

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. The suspect's parents issued a statement shortly after the attack saying he has never harmed anyone and recently began having mental health issues 1

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. However, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins maintained that Morena-Gama carried out a "targeted attack on Mr. Altman" and that prosecutors had evidence to substantiate the charges 1

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Backlash Against Artificial Intelligence Turns Violent

The case represents the most visible expression of a backlash against artificial intelligence that has escalated from protest signs to physical violence in less than two years 2

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. Just two days after the firebomb attack, gunshots were fired at Altman's home from a passing car, resulting in the arrest of two individuals aged 25 and 23 2

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. While authorities found no evidence connecting the two incidents, the proximity in time and target underscores the mounting threats against AI leaders 2

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. The security apparatus around AI executives has expanded substantially, with threats against AI leaders becoming an industry-wide concern alongside model alignment and regulatory compliance 2

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Growing Movement and Data Center Opposition

Between April and June 2025, 20 proposed data centre projects worth a combined $98 billion were blocked or delayed by local resistance, with at least 142 activist groups across 24 US states now organizing to oppose data centre construction 2

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. In February 2026, hundreds marched past the London headquarters of OpenAI, Google DeepMind, and Meta in one of the largest anti-AI demonstrations to date 2

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. Public polling consistently shows that a majority of Americans view AI's trajectory with apprehension rather than optimism 2

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. The global backlash has manifested in various forms, from activists sending six-fingered gloves to AI leaders and European policymakers as warnings, to protesters in Nepal setting fire to a data centre in Kathmandu, disrupting internet access nationwide 2

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. The industry now faces questions about whether current AI safety measures adequately address both technical risks and the physical security of those developing the technology.