Eddy Betancourt, appointed by Texas Governor Abbott, was shot and killed in McAllen.

Businessman Shot Dead in McAllen, Texas

Greg Abbott, a well-known businessman appointed by the Texas governor, was killed over the weekend at a store in McAllen, a border city in the Rio Grande Valley. Authorities have confirmed that the victim was 61-year-old Eddie Betancourt from Mission, Texas.

Officers arrived at the 800 block of Northware Road on Saturday afternoon following a 911 call about a man who seemed to be shot and lying on the floor unresponsive. Upon arrival, they found Betancourt without a pulse and apparently suffering from a gunshot wound. Police are investigating his death as a homicide.

On Sunday, authorities identified 60-year-old Reynaldo Mata Rios as the suspect in the shooting and issued a warrant for his arrest, charging him with murder, a first-degree felony. While Mata Rios has expressed intentions to surrender, he hadn’t done so by Sunday afternoon. Described as approximately 6 feet tall and weighing about 195 pounds, he has brown hair and brown eyes.

In 2020, Gov. Abbott appointed Betancourt to the Texas Facilities Commission, an agency that manages the construction and leasing of state-owned buildings. Betancourt was set to be re-elected in 2023, with his term lasting until 2029, according to the governor’s office.

Alongside his role in state government, Betancourt held positions as president of R&B General Construction Co. Inc., co-owner and president of National Tire and Wheel LLC, and managed general retail for E2H Investment. He was also active in local organizations, including the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors and the McAllen Board of Realtors.