5 years on, Melanie Duval's family is still trying to hold the FBI accountable for her tragic death

Phoenix, Arizona:  Five years after a fatal FBI undercover operation in El Mirage, Arizona, the family of Melanie Duval is demanding answers and accountability for her tragic death.

As a witness aiding law enforcement, Melanie was involved in an operation targeting a criminal. Her daughter Adriana Duval, who survived the incident, is now pursuing a federal lawsuit, claiming the operation was recklessly managed and that officers were negligent, leading to the tragic and avoidable death of her mother.

Melanie Duval, served as an FBI witness in a violent crimes task force operation in El Mirage, in what her family is now calling "one of the most tragic and preventable cases of law enforcement misconduct". The operation, targeting Ernesto Izaguirre — a man with multiple outstanding warrants — turned fatal, leaving Duval dead in her vehicle after a gun battle.

The operation's plan involved a rendezvous at a Walmart parking lot where FBI agents intended to arrest Izaguirre. As per court documents, Melanie, accompanied by her daughter Adriana and another passenger, was supposed to lead Izaguirre to the location, with agents standing by to intervene. However, according to the lawsuit, signs of poor planning emerged even before the operation began. Records show that Melanie herself voiced concerns to the FBI task force about the plan, warning about potential dangers should Izaguirre attempt to flee.

The tension escalated when agents tried a high-risk “vehicle immobilization tactic” to surround Melanie’s truck, with reports describing how the vehicle was pinned and her ability to move was restricted. Witnesses recall that shortly after the maneuver, officers opened fire, striking the vehicle at least 60 times, fatally wounding Melanie.

Legal documentation reveals that FBI agents were aware of the violent nature of Izaguirre, who had previously demonstrated a willingness to evade law enforcement at all costs. Texts between Melanie and task force officers reveal her nervous state; she had messaged her concerns, stating, “I will just ram through if it’s risky.” An agent responded with instructions to keep calm and cooperate, unaware that a deadly confrontation would follow.

Adriana witnessed her mother’s death in the vehicle. Five years later, she remains haunted by that night and is now pressing for justice, filing a lawsuit that alleges excessive force and a lack of accountability by the task force. Adriana's attorney claims the operation was deeply flawed, describing the lack of safeguards to protect Melanie from becoming collateral damage in a volatile arrest scenario.

“They shouldn’t have fired on her car like that, especially when she was a cooperating witness,” Adriana said in a recent interview with ABC 15. “This shouldn’t have happened to my mom. She was innocent.”

The FBI, in its defense, stated that officers were in imminent danger, justifying the shooting as necessary to prevent further harm. However, Adriana’s legal team disputes this, pointing to a lack of evidence that Melanie herself posed any threat to the officers. The family is pushing for accountability, arguing that the FBI failed to adequately protect a cooperating witness and instead placed her in a fatal crossfire.

Izaguirre, the original suspect in the operation, was arrested and recently sentenced to prison, according to court documents. However, the Duval family’s focus remains on Melanie’s death and their ongoing struggle for justice.

“We’ll keep fighting for Melanie,” Adriana said. “She deserved better than this. She should be here with us.”