What began as a normal weekend in a calm Las Vegas suburb quickly spiraled into something far more unsettling.
Federal and local authorities rushed to a home after uncovering what they believe may have been an illegal biological laboratory operating inside the property.
The scene was intense, with hazmat crews, evidence teams, and law enforcement treating the situation as highly dangerous.
Newly released footage from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department captured the dramatic response as agents removed bags of medical tubing, vials, and containers filled with unknown liquids from the house.
Authorities Say Large Volumes of Unknown Materials Were Stored Inside
During a press briefing on Monday, Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that investigators discovered a significant amount of material stored throughout the home.
Refrigerators and freezers contained vials and containers holding liquids of different colors and compositions, raising immediate concern about what exactly was being kept there.
Officials said the volume of recovered substances was substantial, and the true nature of the materials is still being investigated.
FBI Collects More Than 1,000 Samples for Testing
Christopher Delzotto, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Las Vegas field office, confirmed that more than 1,000 samples were collected from the property.
Those samples have now been sent off for testing as investigators work to determine whether the substances pose any kind of threat.
At this stage, authorities have not publicly identified what the materials are, leaving the investigation surrounded by uncertainty.
Property Manager Arrested as Search Expands
Police arrested 55-year-old Ori Solomon, who was identified as the property manager for the Sugar Springs Drive residence and another nearby home that was also searched.
Investigators said the initial search uncovered equipment commonly associated with laboratory work, including biosafety labeling, a centrifuge, specialized refrigerators, and large containers filled with a red-brown liquid.
Refrigerated vials containing unidentified substances were also found, further deepening suspicions.
Homeowner Linked to Previous California Biolab Case
Authorities confirmed that the Las Vegas home is owned by Jia Bei Zhu, a Chinese national connected to a previous investigation involving an alleged illegal biological laboratory discovered in Reedley, California, in 2023.
Zhu has remained in custody since that earlier case.
That California discovery later sparked a congressional investigation, with findings suggesting the lab stored thousands of biological samples labeled as potential pathogens, including HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, COVID-19, and even Ebola.
Attorney Denies Owner Had Any Role in Las Vegas Discovery
Zhu’s attorney, Anthony Capozzi, insisted Monday that his client has no connection to any alleged lab activity taking place in Nevada.
Capozzi said Zhu has been in federal custody for three years and is not involved in any biolab being conducted in a Las Vegas home.
He added that whatever occurred at the residence is something the defense claims to know nothing about.
Police Used Robots and Air Sampling During the Operation
Law enforcement rushed to the home near Washington Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard on Saturday, serving a warrant while taking extreme precautions.
Sheriff McMahill explained that officers used a robot to clear the home before entering and collected multiple air samples to ensure the environment was safe.
Officials later said the suspected lab activity appeared to be mostly confined to a locked garage inside the home.
Renters Were Evacuated and Cleared of Involvement
Police confirmed that three people were renting rooms in the Sugar Springs property and were safely evacuated during the operation.
Investigators emphasized that these renters were not connected to the alleged laboratory or the ongoing investigation.
The focus remains on what was being stored inside the locked area of the home.
Investigators Still Don’t Know the Purpose of the Materials
Perhaps the most alarming part of the case is that authorities still have not determined why the substances were being kept there or what they were intended for.
Sheriff McMahill acknowledged that investigators remain in the dark about the purpose of the biological materials.
He said the next phase of the case will involve figuring out what the materials were, where they came from, and how they were meant to be used.
Political Pressure Builds for Stronger Laws Against Illegal Labs
Congressman Kevin Kiley of California is now calling for hearings on legislation aimed at preventing illegal laboratories from endangering communities.
He argued that the federal government must do more to stop dangerous facilities from operating unnoticed.
Kiley said the bipartisan bill would close loopholes that allow such operations to remain hidden until discoveries like this occur.
Reedley Case Continues to Cast a Shadow Over New Discovery
The Reedley lab case remains deeply troubling, with allegations that the facility received unexplained payments from Chinese banks and stored high-risk biological materials.
Reports from that investigation included a freezer marked “Ebola,” along with genetically engineered mice designed to mimic the human immune system.
Authorities said those mice were allegedly intended for experiments involving COVID-19, adding to fears about the potential misuse of biological research.
What Happens Next?
For now, investigators in Las Vegas are waiting on laboratory test results that will determine what exactly was found inside the home.
The case remains active, and officials say the hardest work is still ahead as they try to uncover the origins, purpose, and potential risks of the materials.
Until those answers come back, the discovery has left Las Vegas residents and federal authorities grappling with a disturbing mystery about what may have been happening behind closed doors in an ordinary suburban garage.
