Jorge Luis Duran was a 36-year-old Hispanic man living with his fiancée, Erica Renee Rendon, and her sons. In early 2022, the family was in the process of moving from San Antonio to a new home in Live Oak, Texas. Tensions arose in the days leading up to the move, as Duran was reportedly unhappy that one of Rendon’s sons was not helping with packing and had damaged the new wood flooring in his mother’s bedroom.
On the evening of Saturday, January 1, 2022, an argument broke out at the family's new residence on Rimwood Street between Duran and the son. The dispute, which was about the damaged floors and the son's lack of help, escalated into a physical fight in which the son slapped Duran in the face. Rendon and her father attempted to separate the two.
During the altercation, Rendon’s other son, 17-year-old Austin James Markowski, was in the shower when he heard a loud noise. According to police, Markowski grabbed his mother's Glock handgun and went to investigate.
He entered the bedroom to find the ongoing struggle. As Duran reportedly tried to get to the other brother, Rendon and her father were either pushed or fell to the ground. Markowski later told police he saw Duran push his mother down and pull out a red knife, though the blade was not extended. It was at this moment that Markowski shot Duran four times. Rendon, however, told investigators that she did not see Duran with a knife.
Emergency services transported Duran to Brooke Army Medical Center, where medical staff pronounced him brain dead due to his injuries. On January 6, 2022, the Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office officially pronounced Jorge Luis Duran deceased.
Live Oak police arrested Austin James Markowski and charged him with murder, a first-degree felony. Markowski claimed he acted in defense of his mother. His bond was set at $300,000. As of January 2022, the case was proceeding through the legal system.
