Attorney for suspect in attack at Sam Altman’s home says he was in midst of 'mental health crisis'

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man accused of trying to killOpenAICEO Sam Altman by throwing a Molotov cocktail at his San Francisco home was experiencing a mental health crisis and has been overcharged by prosecutors, his public defender said Tuesday.

Daniel Moreno-Gama made his first court appearance on state charges with disheveled hair and wearing an orange jail uniform. The 20-year-old, whose attorney said is autistic, kept his gaze down during the brief hearing and softly answered “yes” when asked by a judge whether he agreed to continue his arraignment. San Francisco Judge Kenneth Wine ordered him held without bail and set his arraignment for May 5.

Authorities say Moreno-Gama, of Spring, Texas,hurled the incendiary deviceat Altman’s home Friday, setting an exterior gate on fire before fleeing on foot. Less than an hour later, Moreno-Gama went to OpenAI’s headquarters about 3 miles (5 kilometers) away and threatened to burn down the building, they said. They said he traveled to the city from Texas.

No one was injured at Altman’s home or the company's offices. San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Diamond Ward called the case a “property crime, at best,” and said that prosecutors are pursuing higher charges to curry favor for Altman. Moreno-Gama also faces federal charges.

“It is unfair and is unjust for the San Francisco district attorney and the federal government to fearmonger and to exploit the mental illness of a vulnerable, young man by turning a vandalism case into an attempted murder, life exposure case to gain support of a billionaire, and to get political points at the expense of true justice for everyone involved,” Ward said.

San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins disputed that he was overcharged, saying Moreno-Gama carried out a “targeted attack on Mr. Altman” and that prosecutors had evidence to back up the charges. She said prosecutors would act the same whether the victim was a “billionaire or a CEO or any average San Franciscan.”

“Regardless of a victim's status, they all deserve justice and they all deserve safety,” she said.

Moreno-Gama’s parents said in a statement he has never harmed anyone and recently began having mental health issues.

“We have been trying our best to address these issues and get him effective treatment, and we are very concerned for his well-being,” they said.

Authorities said Moreno-Gama, who works part-time at a pizzeria and is attending community college, expressed hatred ofartificial intelligencein his writings, describing it as a danger to humanity and warning of “impending extinction,” according to court filings.

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“This was not spontaneous. This was planned, targeted and extremely serious,” FBI San Francisco Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Cobo said during a news conference Monday.

Moreno-Gama is charged in California state court with two counts of attempted murder and attempted arson. He tried to kill both Altman and a security guard at Altman’s residence, Jenkins alleged. Officials have not said whether Altman was home at the time, prosecutors said.

Jenkins said the state charges carry penalties ranging from 19 years to life in prison.

On Monday morning, FBI agents went to Moreno-Gama’s home in a Houston suburb where they spent several hours before leaving. He has also been charged by federal prosecutors with possession of an unregistered firearm and damage and destruction of property by means of explosives. Those charges carry respective penalties of up to 10 years and 20 years in prison.

“We will treat this as an act of domestic terrorism, and together with our partners, prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law,” U.S. Attorney Craig Missakian said.

The document in which Moreno-Gama discussed his opposition to AI also made threats against Altman and executives at other AI companies, officials said.

“If I am going to advocate for others to kill and commit crimes, then I must lead by example and show that I am fully sincere in my message,” Moreno-Gama wrote, according to authorities.

Advocacy groups that have issued grave warnings about AI’s risks to society condemned the violence.

Anthony Aguirre, president and CEO of the Future of Life Institute, said in a written statement Friday that “violence and intimidation of any kind have no place in the conversation about the future of AI.”

Another group, PauseAI, said in a statement that the suspect had no role in the group but joined its forum on the social media platform Discord about two years ago and posted about 34 messages there, none containing explicit calls to violence but one that was flagged as “ambiguous.”

Discord said Monday that it has banned Moreno-Gama for “off-platform behavior.”

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 17, 2026

Attorney for suspect in attack at Sam Altman’s home says he was in midst of 'mental health crisis'

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man accused of trying to killOpenAICEO Sam Altman by throwing a Molotov cocktail at his San Francisco home was...

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USC student who lost an eye at ‘No Kings’ protest disputes federal account of crowd warnings

The California college student who lost his right eye after being struck by a projectile while filming at a “No Kings” protest said Wednesday he was only recording and heard no warning before he was hit — an account disputed by federal authorities, who say officers issued multiple warnings before deploying force.

Tucker Collins, 18, who lost his right eye as a result of being hit, said he was documenting the protest outside the Metropolitan Detention Center in downtown Los Angeles on March 28. Wearing a black eye patch Wednesday, he spoke to reporters after his attorney announced the filing of a federal tort claim act.

The claim seeks compensation from the Department of Homeland Security and gives the agency six months to respond. It is a precursor to a potential civil rights lawsuit.

“One moment I was recording, and then the next thing I know, I can’t see. I’m on the floor screaming in agony,” the University of Southern California freshman said.

“There was no warning. I didn’t hear dispersal order. There was no one throwing anything next to me.”

DHS previously said that seven warnings were issued before crowd control measures were deployed and that “rioters threw rocks, bottles, and cement blocks at officers.”

DHS on Wednesday directed CNN to their earlier statement when reached for comment on the federal tort claim filing and Collins’ allegations.

Collins was hit in the eye by a less-lethal projectile he says was fired by a DHS agent, “destroying his eyeball and fracturing the bones in his eye socket,” his attorney V. James DeSimone told CNN.

Collins maintained he was there to exercise his First Amendment rights and that the use of force by federal agents was not warranted.

“There was no way in which I was doing anything at all except just taking photos, taking videos,” Collins said. “What I got from that is I lost an eye.”

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Collins had followed the protesters to the detention center with the intention of documenting it, given his interest in photography and short films, DeSimone said. Although a tall black metal barrier separated the crowd of protesters and the law enforcement agents, and Collins stayed back from the front lines of the protest, he was still hit, his attorney said.

When asked about what transpired and why the projectile was fired, DHS previously said, “The First Amendment protects speech and peaceful assembly – not rioting.”

DHS did not say whether the agency provided treatment or had been in touch with Collins since his injury.

Collins described feeling “some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my life.”

“I couldn’t see anything, and I just didn’t know what was going on,” he said.

A nurse at the protest helped Collins with his wound, according to DeSimone. Collins was taken to the hospital, but the doctors weren’t able to save his eye and had to surgically remove it, he said.

The USC freshman studies astronautical engineering and has kept up with his schoolwork as he recovers, DeSimone said. Collins is getting used to reading with one eye, which impacts his ability to study, but “he’s still determined to try,” his attorney said.

A little over two weeks later, Collins said he is trying to regain a sense of normalcy but knows it will take some time.

“It feels like still that, like, everything I love is at risk of becoming collateral damage,” he said.

CNN’s Sneha Dhandapani contributed to this report.

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byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 17, 2026

USC student who lost an eye at ‘No Kings’ protest disputes federal account of crowd warnings

The California college student who lost his right eye after being struck by a projectile while filming at a “No Kings” protest said Wed...

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Spain's far-right Vox party secures first regional coalition deal with conservatives

By Victoria Waldersee

MADRID, April 17 (Reuters) - Spain's far-right party Vox and the mainstream conservative opposition People's Party have struck a preliminary deal to govern in coalition in Extremadura in the first ‌of three regional deals being negotiated that could test the ability of the right-wing alliance to ‌oust the ruling Socialists in the next general election.

Vox had previously pulled out of five regional governments in 2024 in protest at the ​PP accepting the distribution of unaccompanied migrant minors around the country including in regions their coalitions governed.

In a sign of Vox's growing influence over immigration policy, the latest deal says a future PP-Vox government will "oppose by all means necessary" any further such distribution of undocumented migrants including minors.

The success or failure of this second attempt at joint governance ‌will be closely watched by voters ⁠who are considering supporting an alliance of the two parties in the next national election, which Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez must call before June next year.

Polls currently suggest ⁠the PP and Vox are the only pairing able to form a majority, with the two parties expected to garner a combined 51.4% of votes compared to just 27.7% for the Socialists and roughly 8% for smaller parties further left, ​which ​have taken a battering in regional elections.

'BLANK CHEQUE'

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The three regions ​of Aragon, Extremadura and Castille and Leon, ‌together home to roughly 10% of Spain's population, are major agricultural producers with billions pledged by U.S. and Chinese firms in industrial investments in coming years, including in data centres and battery production.

Extremadura also hosts renewable energy production sites, including Europe's largest solar facility, that are likely to come under scrutiny by Vox, which opposes the European Green Deal and climate protection policies.

Though the PP will take the presidency and most ministries in Extremadura, ‌Vox will lead the agriculture ministry as well as the family ​ministry, granting it greater control over important areas for its voter ​base.

The coalition deal includes opposition to large renewable ​projects on agricultural land and a pledge to push to keep open the Almaraz ‌nuclear plant, currently slated to close by 2028.

A ​future Vox-PP government would cut ​regional taxes for lower-income earners, expand inheritance tax breaks and prioritise access to public services and housing for nationals or those with a "real, lasting and verifiable connection to the territory," according to the ​deal.

The Socialist government has accused the ‌PP of writing Vox a "blank cheque" to get deals done. PP leader Alberto Nunez Feijoo argues ​an alliance is the only democratic solution given Vox's position as Spain's now third-largest political force.

(Reporting ​by Victoria Waldersee, editing by Aislinn Laing, Kirsten Donovan)

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 17, 2026

Spain's far-right Vox party secures first regional coalition deal with conservatives

By Victoria Waldersee MADRID, April 17 (Reuters) - Spain's far-right party Vox and the mainstream conservative opposition Peo...

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Pope Leo XIV in Algeria to walk in footsteps of his spiritual father, St. Augustine

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) —Pope Leo XIVis following in the footsteps of his spiritual father, St. Augustine, making a pilgrimage to the archaeological ruins of eastern Algeria where the fifth century titan of early Christianity lived, died and wrote some of the most important works in Western thought.

Algeria Africa Pope

Leo’s visit to Annaba, the modern-day Hippo, is a spiritual homecoming for the American pope on his secondfull day in Algeria. He arrived Monday on the first-ever papal visit, against the backdrop of the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and his calls for peace that have sparked a feud with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Leo proclaimed himself a “son of St. Augustine” on the night of his election and has cited Augustine prolifically in his first year, making clear he is the guiding inspiration of Leo's pontificate. For this trip, where he is aiming to press a message of peace and Christian-Muslim coexistence, he is focusing on Augustine as a bridge-builder.

But the visit is also drawing attention to the North African origins of Augustine, who only spent five years in Italy but is often considered through a Eurocentric lens as one of the greatest Western thinkers of Christianity for his writings on truth, evil, creation and grace.

Leo'sAugustinian religious orderwas founded in Italy in the 13th century, inspired by the saint.

A life in North Africa, looking to Rome

St. Augustine was born in 354 to a Berber mother and Roman father in Thagaste, today the Algerian city of Souk Ahras near the border with Tunisia. At the time, the swath of North Africa was part of the Roman Empire, including Carthage in today’s Tunisia, where Augustine was educated and taught rhetoric.

He left North Africa for Rome in 383 and then Milan, where he converted to Christianity. He returned to his homeland soon thereafter, founded a monastery at Hippo, became a bishop and there wrote some of the most important works in the Western canon, including “Confessions” and “The City of God.”

A new book, “Augustine the African,” by Catherine Conybeare, an Augustine scholar at Bryn Mawr college in Pennsylvania, explores Augustine from his perspective: As a North African, looking to Rome as the center of his universe but feeling insecure there about his Punic-accented Latin.

“One of the most important thinkers in the Western intellectual tradition actually came from Africa, spent almost his whole life in Africa,” Conybeare told The Associated Press. “How does that change things?”

“Of course, because his successors — the people who carried on his heritage — were in Europe, they got to tell the story,” she said. And Europe got his body: After dying in Hippo, Augustine's body was taken eventually to Pavia, Italy, though a forearm remains in the basilica in Annaba.

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In welcoming Leo on the first-ever papal visit to Algeria, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed the “immense pride” Algerians feel over St. Augustine. He called him “a cherished son of this land, which having been his first cradle, proudly became his initial resting place.”

A personal visit for Leo

Leo made clear en route to Algeria and even in his remarks to Algerian authorities how deeply personal and important this visit is to him, because of his spiritual connection to St. Augustine. He had visited twice before, while he was superior of the Augustinian order.

“This journey, which is very special for several reasons, was supposed to be the first of my pontificate,” Leo told reporters on the papal plane. “As early as last May, I had said that on my first journey, I would like to visit Africa. Several people immediately suggested Algeria because of St. Augustine.”

In the end, other trips intervened, but he kept the appointment.

The saint, he said, represents “a very important bridge in interreligious dialogue" that the world could use.

“We must always seek bridges to build peace and reconciliation," he said. "This journey, then, truly represents a valuable opportunity to continue with the same voice, with the same message, that we wish to convey: to promote peace, reconciliation, respect and consideration for all peoples.”

While in Annaba, Leo was to visit the archaeological ruins of the ancient Roman city of Hippo, including its theatre, market and thermal baths. The Vatican said the site includes the ruins of the basilica where Augustine preached and the adjoining baptistry.

Leo was also to visit an order of nuns and the small community of Augustinians in Annaba. He was finishing the day by celebrating Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine, built in the late 1800s, which contains the relic of the saint. Thousands of pilgrims visit the basilica each year, including Muslims.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’scollaborationwith The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 16, 2026

Pope Leo XIV in Algeria to walk in footsteps of his spiritual father, St. Augustine

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) —Pope Leo XIVis following in the footsteps of his spiritual father, St. Augustine, making a pilgrimage to the arc...

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From beginning to end: Soccer team switches two coaches with opposite names

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — A German soccer club has made an eye-catching change, firing one coach whose name means “beginning” and hiring one whose name means “end.”

Soccer Germany Beginning To End

Second division Fortuna Duesseldorf said Sunday it was parting company with Markus Anfang, whose surname translates from German as “beginning” or “start”, and bringing in Alexander Ende, or “end”, for the last five games of the season.

That prompted jokes on German social media and speculation about how Ende's task will be to stop the end of Fortuna's time in the division. He takes over with the team just one point above the relegation zone. Anfang won six of 22 games during a six-month stint in charge.

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“I'm looking forward very much to this exciting challenge at Fortuna," Ende said in a statement.

"The situation is challenging but I am absolutely convinced that together with everyone at Fortuna we will secure our place in the league. And that is all that matters right now.”

AP soccer:https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 16, 2026

From beginning to end: Soccer team switches two coaches with opposite names

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — A German soccer club has made an eye-catching change, firing one coach whose name means “beginning” and hir...

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Ironworkers' bodies recovered in Grays Ferry parking garage collapse

Five days after the fatal parking garage collapse in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia, officials have recovered the two missing ironworkers from the rubble.

Recovery efforts began around 9 p.m. Sunday, and the two workers were recovered early Monday city officials said in a news release.

The workers had been presumed deadfollowing the April 8 collapse of an under-construction parking garage in Grays Ferry. Another worker had been taken to the hospital immediately following the collapse and pronounced dead.

“To the men and women of Local 401 and to every member of the Philadelphia Building Trades, let me say this: Philadelphia feels your pain, Philadelphia prays for you, and your city stands with you,” Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said in a Monday morning press release.

Who died in the Grays Ferry, CHOP parking garage collapse? CHOP parking garage collapse victims

While the names of the victims have not been officially released by the authorities, all three victims were members of the Ironworkers' Local Union No. 401.

Ironworkers Matthew Kane and Mark Scott Jr. werethe two missing in the rubble, while Stephen Shevchuk was pronounced dead the day of the collapse.

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Cape May Mayor Zack Mullockexpressed his sympathyfollowing the collapse, confirming the identity of Matthew Kane, a Cape May resident.

How did the Grays Ferry parking garage collapse?

According to an incident report summary delivered by Parker Wednesday night,all seven levels of the structure's stair system failedon the 30th Street side stairwell.

Subcontractors were in the process of installing precast concrete floor decking and roof segments, when a precast roof segment failed, falling to the level below and "literally triggering a progressive collapse of connected sections across all seven levels," Parker said.

The precast sections had been manufactured off site and installed by the manufacturer, officials said.

Kaitlyn McCormick is a Philadelphia-based reporter writing all things trending, breaking and city-related for USA TODAY's Philadelphia Metro Connect Team.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Workers bodies retrieved from Grays Ferry parking garage collapse

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 16, 2026

Ironworkers' bodies recovered in Grays Ferry parking garage collapse

Five days after the fatal parking garage collapse in the Grays Ferry section of Philadelphia, officials have recovered the two missing ...

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United Airlines CEO pitched American Airlines tie-up in meeting with Trump, sources say

By David Shepardson and Rajesh Kumar Singh

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, April 13 (Reuters) - United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pitched the potential for merging with American Airlines in a meeting nFWN40W13A with U.S. President Donald Trump https://www.reuters.com/world/us/donald-trump/ in late February, two sources said, raising the prospect of an industry-reshaping deal likely to face significant regulatory hurdles.

A combination of ‌two of the largest U.S. network carriers would mark the biggest consolidation move in more than a decade, further tightening a domestic market already dominated by four similarly ‌sized players.

Including international flights, United and American were already the world's two largest airlines by available capacity in 2025, according to OAG data.

The meeting with Trump took place on February 25 toward the end of a scheduled White House meeting ​https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-advancing-discussions-how-rebuild-washington-dulles-airport-2026-03-09/ on the future of Dulles airport, said the sources with knowledge of the matter. That was three days before the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran https://www.reuters.com/world/iran/ that sent jet fuel prices soaring and has led airlines to raise fares and fees to offset higher costs.

Kirby has argued to administration officials that a combined airline would be a stronger competitor in international markets and noted the Trump administration has focused on U.S. trade deficits around the globe, the sources said.

The United CEO said at a forum in September that two-thirds of long-haul seats to and from the United States are ‌on foreign carriers, but 60% of passengers are U.S. citizens.

Industry officials ⁠said the chances of the deal's approval would be slim, citing likely opposition from unions, rival airlines, lawmakers and airports, as well as concerns about route overlap and job losses.

One person close to the White House said there was skepticism about such a tie-up, given its potential impact on competition and ⁠ticket prices at a time when the administration is already focused on rising costs for consumers ahead of midterm elections in November.

Antitrust lawyer Seth Bloom said the deal would be unlikely to clear regulatory hurdles, even under a Trump administration that has taken a more relaxed approach to enforcement.

"The administration has said it really cares about the issues that affect the consumer's pocketbook, and this would give the airlines more pricing ​power," ​Bloom said.

It was not clear whether United has made any formal approach to American or whether a process was ​underway. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks were ‌not public.

United and American declined to comment. The White House did not respond to requests for comment.

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American shares rose more than 5% in after-hours trading following the report, while United shares were little changed.

HIGHLY CONCENTRATED MARKET

The U.S. airline industry is already highly concentrated, with American, Delta Air Lines, United and Southwest Airlines controlling the bulk of domestic traffic, each with a share of roughly 17%, according to Department of Transportation data.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this month that there was room for consolidation nL1N40Q0S5 in the U.S. airline industry, but warned any deal would face close scrutiny for its impact on consumers.

Ganesh Sitaraman, director of the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator and author of "Why Flying Is Miserable," said a United-American merger would reduce competition.

"Fewer choices mean higher ticket prices, more fees, ‌and fewer options for anyone who wants to get from point A to point B," he said.

AMERICAN UNDER PRESSURE

American ​has been under pressure to improve profitability https://www.reuters.com/business/americans-chicago-showdown-with-united-airlines-becomes-key-test-turnaround-2026-02-05/ and close the gap with Delta and United, after unions earlier ​this year criticized management https://www.reuters.com/business/world-at-work/american-airlines-unions-ratchet-up-pressure-board-over-lagging-profit-2026-02-12/ over lagging returns. The airline has pointed to strong ​premium demand and corporate travel to drive a recovery in 2026.

The Texas-based carrier also carries about $25 billion in long-term debt, more than its larger rivals, ‌leaving it with less financial flexibility as it works through a turnaround at ​a time of high fuel costs.

American is the ​smallest of the big four U.S. airlines by market value, at about $7 billion, compared with roughly $31 billion for United, $19 billion for Southwest and $44 billion for Delta.

"We have been very open about our concerns regarding American's financial, operational and customer service underperformance," said Dennis Tajer, a spokesman for American's pilots' union.

United has struck a more confident tone as high fuel ​prices test the industry, with Kirby saying last month that a prolonged ‌cost shock could create opportunities https://www.reuters.com/business/us-airlines-face-fuel-driven-financial-shakeout-2026-03-30/ for stronger airlines to gain share as weaker rivals struggle.

Kirby previously served as American's president from 2013 to 2016, but in ​the past he has played down the appeal of large acquisitions.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago; Additional reporting by Chris Thomas ​and Natalia Bueno Rebolledo in Mexico City and Chris Sanders in Washington; Editing by Jamie Freed)

byVaclavien Pynzarien

in

April 15, 2026

United Airlines CEO pitched American Airlines tie-up in meeting with Trump, sources say

By David Shepardson and Rajesh Kumar Singh WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, April 13 (Reuters) - United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby pitched the p...

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