Daniel Moreno-Gama, a Texas resident, faces federal charges of attempted damage and destruction of property by means of explosives and possession of an unregistered firearm after authorities say he threw a Molotov cocktail at a North Beach home. Shortly after, Moreno-Gama went to OpenAI’s headquarters, where authorities say he struck the building’s glass doors with a chair and told security he intended to burn the site and kill people inside. Surveillance footage captured both attacks, according to a federal criminal complaint.
Moreno-Gama’s family said he had no prior arrests and had recently been working at a restaurant while attending college classes. They described him as caring and said he has not harmed anyone, asking for privacy as the case moves forward.
“Our son Daniel is a loving person who has been suffering recently from a mental illness crisis,” his parents said a statement released Tuesday by the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office. “We have been trying our best to address these issues and get him effective treatment, and we are very concerned for his wellbeing.”
When officers detained him, they found Moreno-Gama carrying incendiary devices, a jug of kerosene, a lighter and a written document titled “Your Last Warning,” which outlined opposition to artificial intelligence and called for violence against industry executives, listing their names and addresses, officials said.
He appeared in court Tuesday, where Deputy Public Defender Diamond Ward was appointed to represent him. His arraignment was continued to May 5, he did not enter a plea, and he remains in custody without bail, according to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.
In a statement from the public defender’s office, Ward noted Moreno-Gama’s history of mental health issues, and alluded to a prior autism diagnosis.
“What’s becoming clear is that Daniel’s actions appear to have been driven by an acute mental health crisis, not a desire to harm,” Ward said. She called the case “overcharged” and noted that no one was injured and that the damage appears limited.
“It is unfair and unjust for the San Francisco District Attorney and the federal government to fearmonger and exploit this young man’s vulnerability simply due to the high-profile status of the people involved,” she said. “… Daniel is entitled to due process and fair proceedings. We will defend him zealously and seek a just outcome in this case.”
If convicted, Moreno-Gama faces a mandatory minimum of five years in prison and up to 20 years on the explosives charge, along with up to 10 years on the firearm charge, prosecutors said.