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(KTLA) – The residence of a 17-year-old prodigy in Southern California became the focus of an FBI and hazmat team investigation last week, all due to what the teenager claims was simply a science project.
Federal officials reported they were examining questionable substances found at the family’s home in Irvine. However, the teen, alongside the family’s lawyer, clarified that it was merely a misunderstanding.
Federal authorities said they were looking into suspicious chemicals at the family’s Irvine home, but the teen and the family’s attorney said it was all a misunderstanding.
Nexstar’s KTLA spoke to the young science prodigy in Irvine on Thursday.
Accepted into college at just 13 years old, Amalvin Fritz is now a brilliant 17-year-old who says he was surprised when the FBI surrounded his home looking for a possible nerve agent.
From his home chemistry setup, Fritz was doing experiments and posting them on YouTube, until last week, when the FBI and the Weapons of Mass Destruction support team raided his home.
“This is definitely a surprising situation,” he said. “I don’t think anybody expects to have the federal authorities knock on their door.”
He spoke out for the first time, telling KTLA he was not doing anything dangerous or illegal. “I obtain all the chemicals that I work with through online sellers that anybody could obtain them through, through Amazon, eBay and at the hardware store.”
He continued, “Anything can be dangerous if not handled with a lot of care and patience and safety.”
Fritz said it was rubbing alcohol and other common chemicals that spurred the massive federal investigation, and he said he and his family still have not been allowed to return to their home.
“I’ve been out of my home for almost seven days now, and I really want to return home, and I truly believe that there was nothing dangerous,” he said Thursday.
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Seventeen-year-old whiz kid Amalvin Fritz is pictured in an interview with KTLA. (KTLA) -
FBI agents, hazmat personnel and law enforcement continue investigating a home in Irvine on Feb. 25, 2026, after “suspicious” materials were discovered. (KTLA) -
FBI agents, hazmat personnel and law enforcement continue investigating a home in Irvine on Feb. 25, 2026, after “suspicious” materials were discovered. (KTLA) -
FBI agents, hazmat personnel and law enforcement continue investigating a home in Irvine on Feb. 25, 2026, after “suspicious” materials were discovered. (KTLA) -
FBI agents, hazmat personnel and law enforcement continue investigating a home in Irvine on Feb. 25, 2026, after “suspicious” materials were discovered. (KTLA) -
FBI agents, hazmat personnel and law enforcement continue investigating a home in Irvine on Feb. 25, 2026, after “suspicious” materials were discovered. (KTLA) -
Investigators probe an Irvine home after “suspicious” items were found. Mar. 2, 2026. (Sky5) -
Investigators probe an Irvine home after “suspicious” items were found. Mar. 2, 2026. (Sky5) -
Investigators probe an Irvine home after “suspicious” items were found. Mar. 2, 2026. (Sky5) -
Investigators probe an Irvine home after “suspicious” items were found. Mar. 2, 2026. (Sky5) -
Investigators probe an Irvine home after “suspicious” items were found. Mar. 2, 2026. (Sky5) -
Investigators probe an Irvine home after “suspicious” items were found. Mar. 2, 2026. (Sky5)
Fritz has not been charged with any crime. He’s working with an attorney, though, and called what happened a big misunderstanding.
The teen is going to be graduating from UC Irvine in a few months and then it’s on to medical school.
Despite the scare for his family, he’s hoping the incident will help bring attention to the importance of science and medicine.
“Helping people is something that I’ve been passionate about for the longest time, and I truly believe that this is a way that I can contribute to the healthcare system in America,” he said.
The family was still waiting to get back into their home Wednesday night. Fritz said he will continue his experiments, hoping to one day find a cure for cancer and Alzheimer’s.