Two suspects were arrested in San Francisco after an alleged shooting at the home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman early Sunday, the second attack in the area in three days, as local prosecutors are targeting a different suspect than the previous Molotov incident.
Summary
- Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23, were arrested on April 13 after a Honda pulled up outside Altman’s property in North Beach and a round was allegedly fired through the passenger window.
- A few days ago, Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, was charged with attempted murder after throwing an incendiary object at Altman’s home before continuing to threaten to burn down the OpenAI headquarters.
- Moreno-Gama held a three-part manifesto outlining anti-AI beliefs and listing the names and addresses of AI executives, board members, and investors.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman’s home in San Francisco was targeted for the second time in three days on April 13, when a Honda car carrying two people pulled up outside the property on Lombard Street and a gun was allegedly fired through the passenger window. The San Francisco Police Department arrested Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23, who were booked on charges of reckless discharge of a firearm. Three guns were taken from their home following a warrant.
No injuries were reported in either incident.
The first attack occurred on the morning of April 10, when Daniel Moreno-Gama, 20, a resident of Texas, allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the driveway gate of Altman’s house, setting it on fire. He then proceeded to OpenAI’s Mission Bay headquarters and smashed the glass doors with a chair while threatening to “burn it down and kill anyone inside.” He was arrested at the scene.
The FBI described the first attack as “planned, targeted and very serious.” State and local prosecutors charged Moreno-Gama with attempted murder of Altman and his bodyguard, attempted arson, possession of an unregistered firearm and attempted vandalism with explosives. The U.S. attorney for the district of Northern California said domestic terrorism charges could also follow.
Who Was Behind The First Attack
Moreno-Gama was found in possession of a document detailing his opposition to artificial intelligence and clearly naming Altman as his target. The manifesto stated his belief that AI threatens human extinction and listed the names and addresses of many AI executives, board members, and investors. He reportedly posted similar comments on his personal Substack before the attack.
His public defender said it appeared he had been dealing with “mental health difficulties.” Altman posted a photo of his family on his blog shortly after the first attack, writing that he had “underestimated the power of words and stories” and called for a reduction in AI-related speech.
The Broad Pattern of Anti-AI Violence
The two incidents at Altman’s home are part of a wider pattern of hostility towards the AI infrastructure. An Indianapolis city councilman was shot 13 times after expressing support for a data center project. A small town near St. Louis voted its entire governing council after approving the data center. Experts have drawn parallels to the Luddite backlash of the Second Industrial Revolution.
The attack comes as OpenAI sits in the middle of a high-stakes race in business AI, where it has been losing out to Anthropic in all key corporate accounts, while at the same time finalizing an AI cybersecurity product for limited partner release. The company is valued at over $850 billion and is eyeing an IPO this year.
“There is no place in our democracy for violence against anyone, regardless of the AI lab they work in or the side of the debate they are in,” OpenAI said in a statement following the first attack.
