A family attorney assures the public that there are no concerns necessary after the FBI investigated a teenager after a science experiment. Darsha Philips reports for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.
The Irvine teenager whose science experiment started a federal investigation and a hazardous materials response a few months ago is once again at the center of an FBI investigation, the teen’s family attorney confirmed with NBC Los Angeles Tuesday.
Back in February, someone in the neighborhood had alerted authorities about suspicious chemical activity, prompting the first FBI investigation. But Amalvin Fritz, now 18, told NBCLA then that he was mixing water, rubbing alcohol with chemicals that are commonly found in Epsom salts and nail polish remover.
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According to Charles Young, the family attorney, the Fritz family moved to a new house on Crater and began unloading the content of three storage bins, which were investigated by the FBI and released back to the family. But the lawyer believed the smell from the boxes may have prompted neighbors to report the odor Tuesday morning.
The Irvine Police Department also confirmed that it began a joint operation with the FBI Tuesday morning after receiving a call about a chemical odor coming from a residence on Crater.
Irvine police said there were no known threat to the community, and no neighbors were evacuated.
However, the Fritz family was forced to leave its home again while cooperating with the FBI, Young said.
"The family is beyond frustrated that this is happening again, and that people are scared of what they don't understand," the attorney told NBCLA.
On Wednesday, the police department said on social media that the investigation was ongoing and that the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency are evaluating the materials at the location — a process that could take days to finish.
The family maintained the 18-year-old UC Irvine biology student is passionate about science as he dreams of becoming a medical doctor and finding a cure for cancer.
In a statement, the FBI said no one has been charged with a crime in connection with the investigation, but the agency is attempting to determine whether "criminal activity is suspected."
The agency said there is no known threat to public safety.
