Synopsis
Sam Altman’s home was reportedly targeted in a second incident just days after an earlier Molotov cocktail attack. Police said two suspects were arrested and charged with negligent discharge of a firearm. The earlier episode prompted Altman to warn that “words and narratives” can escalate real-world risks.The San Francisco Police Department confirmed that two suspects — Amanda Tom, 25, and Muhamad Tarik Hussein, 23 — have been arrested. They have been booked on the charge of negligent discharge of a firearm.
This follows the earlier incident on Friday, when a 20-year-old man allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the property. Altman had made that episode public, saying he hoped that being open about it might discourage similar acts. That hope was dashed on Sunday.
What happened?
According to reports, a Honda sedan with two people inside stopped outside Altman’s home after passing it briefly a few minutes earlier.
A hand then emerged from the passenger side window and appeared to fire a shot. This was detailed in the police report, which cited both surveillance footage and statements from the property’s security staff, who reported hearing a gunshot, according to the report.
The vehicle then drove away. However, its licence plate was captured on camera, allowing police to later trace and seize the car.
Officers subsequently went to the 2000 block of Taylor Street, where they detained Tom and Hussein without any resistance. A search of the residence uncovered three firearms, according to the police.
Both individuals were taken to San Francisco County Jail and formally charged under California Penal Code 246.3, which relates to negligent discharge of a firearm.
The first attack
The earlier incident took place on Friday, April 10. A 20-year-old man from Texas, Daniel Alejandro Moreno-Gama, allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail — a bottle filled with flammable liquid and a burning rag — at the OpenAI CEO’s property.
Security personnel quickly extinguished the fire, and the entire incident was captured on camera. Soon after, staff at OpenAI’s headquarters in the Mission Bay area encountered a person matching the suspect’s description. That individual reportedly made threatening remarks before being taken into custody.
Following the first attack, Altman suggested the incident may have been influenced by a recent “incendiary” article about him, combined with rising public concern around artificial intelligence. The article in question was an investigative piece published by the New Yorker based on hundreds of interviews, internal communications and documents, which cast doubt on his character, with some of those interviewed going so far as to call him a “pathological liar”. The article came days after Altman was once again accused of sexual abuse by his sister when she was a child.
Altman said he had previously dismissed warnings that such coverage could increase risks, but now believes that “words and narratives” can escalate situations.
The OpenAI CEO also addressed broader concerns about AI’s impact on society. "The fear and anxiety about AI is justified," he wrote. "We are in the process of witnessing the largest change to society in a long time, and perhaps ever."
Altman added that there is a need for policy efforts to help guide society through this transition.
