Businessman and Governor Abbott appointee shot and killed in border city
Eddy Betancourt, Rio Grande Valley businessman and member of the Texas Facilities Commission, was shot and killed inside a business in McAllen
A prominent businessman and appointee of Texas Governor Greg Abbott was shot and killed over the weekend in the Rio Grande Valley border city of McAllen, local authorities said.
Police identified the victim as Eddy Betancourt, of 61 years old, a resident of Mission, Texas. Officers responded Saturday afternoon to the 800 block of North Ware Road after receiving a 911 call reporting a man lying on the ground, apparently shot and unresponsive. Upon arrival, officers found Betancourt unconscious, without a pulse, and with what appeared to be a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and the case was immediately classified as a homicide. A suspect has been identified in the crime. On Sunday, McAllen police identified Reynaldo Mata-Rios, 60, as the prime suspect in the murder. A municipal court issued an arrest warrant for him on the charge of murder, a first-degree felony in Texas. Authorities indicated that Mata-Rios expressed his intention to turn himself in, but as of Sunday afternoon, he had not done so. According to police, the suspect is approximately 6 feet tall, weighs about 195 pounds, and has brown hair and eyes.
The possible motive for the crime has not yet been revealed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Business Background and Role in State Government
In 2020, Governor Greg Abbott appointed Betancourt to the Texas Facilities Commission, the agency responsible for overseeing the construction, maintenance, and leasing of state buildings. In 2023, he was reappointed for a new term that would extend through 2029.
He also served on the board of directors of the Hidalgo County Appraisal District and was a member of the McAllen Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.
Ongoing Investigation
Authorities reiterated that the case remains under investigation and asked anyone with relevant information to contact the McAllen Police Department. No additional details have been released regarding the circumstances surrounding the murder or the relationship between the victim and the suspect.