Texas TV Reporter Caught on Video Trying to Enter Austin Shooter's Apartment

Neighbor's doorbell camera footage shows journalist attempting to access crime scene after mass shooting

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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A neighbor's doorbell camera captured a Texas TV reporter, identified as former KXAN journalist Taylor Alanis, appearing to try to enter the apartment of the Austin mass shooter just hours after the deadly attack. The reporter was seen attempting to open the door of the suspect's apartment, which had been designated as a crime scene by authorities. The station has not publicly addressed the incident, and Alanis is no longer listed as an employee.

Why it matters

This incident raises concerns about media ethics and the appropriate boundaries for journalists covering a breaking news story and active crime scene. Attempting to access a restricted area without permission could be seen as an invasion of privacy and a potential obstruction of an ongoing investigation.

The details

The footage, captured by neighbor Kevin Duvall, shows the reporter wearing a KXAN jacket approaching and trying the door handle of the apartment where the Austin mass shooting suspect, Ndiaga Diagne, had been staying. Duvall said the reporter, along with another station staff member, had previously knocked on his door to request permission to use doorbell footage he had recorded of the suspect leaving the apartment the night before the shooting. Shortly after, Duvall heard loud banging coming from across the hall and saw the reporters attempting to enter the apartment.

  • The incident occurred around 11:50 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2026, shortly after the reporter had spoken with Duvall.
  • The Austin mass shooting unfolded around 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 1, 2026.

The players

Taylor Alanis

A former multimedia journalist for KXAN, the NBC affiliate in Austin. Alanis' profile has been removed from the station's online staff directory, and the station has not commented on the incident.

Kevin Duvall

A neighbor who lives across the hall from the apartment where the Austin mass shooting suspect was staying. Duvall captured the footage on his doorbell camera and later shared it online.

Ndiaga Diagne

The 53-year-old suspect in the Austin mass shooting that left three victims and the gunman dead, and 13 others injured. Diagne had been living at the East Ridge Apartments in Del Valle, Texas.

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What they’re saying

“I start to hear slamming across the hall. I looked to see what it was, and they were trying to bust down that door.”

— Kevin Duvall, Neighbor (Chron)

“Not even 30 seconds later, it started. I was in complete shock. It's a crime scene there, and you're trying to bust down a door to get, I guess, true inside news.”

— Kevin Duvall, Neighbor (Chron)

What’s next

Federal investigators have contacted Duvall and plan to reach out to KXAN after viewing the doorbell camera footage. The station has not publicly addressed the incident or confirmed the identity of the reporter shown in the video.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for media outlets to uphold ethical standards and respect the boundaries of active crime scenes, even in the pursuit of breaking news. The actions of the KXAN reporter could be seen as a violation of journalistic integrity and may undermine public trust in the media.