In the quiet capital of Montpelier, Vermont, a dispute that began in a bar escalated into a tragic and fatal encounter in the early morning hours of January 22, 2017. This event marked the city's first homicide in nearly a century. The life of Markus D'Anthony Austin, a 33-year-old Black / African American man, was cut short in the parking lot of his own apartment complex.
A former professional basketball player for the Vermont Frost Heaves and a dedicated mental health specialist at the Vermont Psychiatric Care Hospital, Austin was known for his engaging personality and infectious smile. He was a father, a partner, and a respected member of the community, having moved to Vermont after a notable high school and college basketball career that began in his hometown of White Plains, New York.
The chain of events leading to his death began with an altercation at a bar in the nearby city of Barre. Witnesses reported that Austin was involved in a dispute with Desiree Cary, the girlfriend of Jayveon Caballero. Later that same morning, Caballero drove to Austin's apartment in Montpelier and waited for him to return. As Austin pulled into his parking lot, Caballero confronted him. A witness who overheard the argument also heard a single gunshot. The shooter reportedly showed a moment of remorse, asking if the victim was okay, before fleeing the scene as Austin lay unresponsive.
An arrest warrant was quickly issued for Jayveon Caballero on a murder charge. Believed to have fled the state, law enforcement tracked him as he boarded a bus headed towards New York City. His girlfriend, Desiree Cary, was arrested in Barre on drug charges but was later released. The search for Caballero concluded in May 2017, when he was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Deltona, Florida. He was then extradited back to Vermont to face charges for the death of Markus Austin.
In November 2019, a jury found Jayveon Caballero guilty of second-degree murder. During the trial, evidence showed that Caballero had obtained a pistol after the initial altercation and deliberately drove to Austin's home with the intent to confront him. Although Caballero testified that he did not intend to kill Austin when he fired the weapon, the jury's verdict held him responsible for the fatal shooting. In October 2020, he was sentenced to serve 25 years to life in prison, bringing a close to the legal proceedings in a case that had deeply affected the community and left a young son without his father.
