A 17-year-old whose science experiment led to a massive probe by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and hazardous materials response in his Irvine neighborhood broke his silence Tuesday, saying the police response was based on a big misunderstanding.
Amalvin Fritz, 17, said before the federal investigation began, he was mixing water, rubbing alcohol with chemicals that are commonly found in epsom salts and nail polish remover at his Irvine home.
The UC Irvine biology student said he is passionate about science and hopes to advance and discover breakthroughs in search and medicine as medical doctor.
“What my interest truly was in is in creating these molecules called Cubanes, which have a three-dimensional structure, which can be manipulated in a way to allow these molecules to bind directly and in an efficient and better way than people have bound these compounds ever before,” Fritz said. “And this has such a profound impact across many fields such as cancer biology, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. And this has been a truly a personal battle for me because I lost my aunt to cancer in 2020.”
The federal investigation began last month when officials were alerted about suspicious chemical activity.
Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and hazardous materials crews have been at the two-story residence since Monday afternoon. NBC Los Angeles has learned that they were joined by a highly specialized unit of the California National Guard that mobilizes in cases involving the use or threat of weapons of mass destruction, at the request of the FBI, according to a statement.
But the family’s attorney, Charles M. Ray, had also said the situation is a misunderstanding, explaining the teen was conducting experiments.
Ray directed NBCLA to the teenager’s YouTube channel, where he posts chemistry-related videos, saying the videos are meant to be instructional.
“We categorically deny the allegations that have been suggested and reject any implication that he poses a threat in any way, shape, or form,” the attorney said in a statement. “There is no credible evidence to support the narrative that has begun to circulate, and we are confident that when the facts are reviewed objectively, that will become clear,” said Ray.
The FBI and hazmat team are investigating items found inside an Irvine home. Darsha Philips reports for NBC4 at 11 p.m. on Feb. 25, 2026.
Fritz said he was using protective equipment and does not think he was doing anything dangerous. But experts told NBC Los Angeles that experiments, like Fritz’s, should not be done at home.
The FBI said it’s continuing to investigate.
No one has been charged in the case.