A man facing serious heat for a gunpoint robbery in San Antonio was behind bars after his distinctive tear-shaped tattoo gave him away. Austin Markowski, accused of the brazen theft and charged with Aggravated Robbery, got nabbed by authorities following an unsettling face-off that occurred on March 6, reported by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office.
According to a chilling affidavit obtained by FOX San Antonio, the victim thought something was off when he noticed his vehicle door ajar near Lakeview Drive. Confronting Markowski, who allegedly claimed he dropped his keys inside the car, the incident took a harrowing turn. Only wearing an orange ski mask, boxers, and a long-sleeved shirt, Markowski's face, and his identifying teardrop tattoo under the right eye, were still out in the open.
The situation quickly spiraled when the victim attempted to secure his vehicle - that's when Markowski, according to the affidavit, revealed a firearm. Threatening to shoot, he demanded the car keys at gunpoint, and eerily warned he would "shoot up the place" before taking off on foot. This led to his arrest, after the man told deputies he knew Markowski because he was a roommate of an associate of his and identified him after a photo lineup administered by investigators.
Residents were rattled by Markowski's threats, who reportedly declared he'd return with more violence if his demands weren't met. Clad only in a ski mask and his undies, he wasn't your average criminal mastermind. The victim, familiar with his face thanks to the tattoo and seeing him around the neighborhood, confirmed to deputies he could pick out Markowski from the crowd. Now confined to a cell, Markowski is staring down the prospect of a stint in state prison. He's currently held, with his bond set at an icy $75,000.
