Appointee of Gov Abbott killed in Rio Grande Valley, according to police

Businessman Fatally Shot in McAllen

Authorities have reported that Eddie Betancourt, a 61-year-old businessman and appointee of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, was shot dead over the weekend at a store in McAllen, located in the Rio Grande Valley.

McAllen police responded to a call on Saturday afternoon about a man down on the floor who wasn’t breathing. Upon arrival at the 800 block of Northware Road, officers found Betancourt unresponsive and without a pulse, suffering from what appeared to be a gunshot wound.

This case is currently being treated as a homicide, according to police.

On Sunday, Reynaldo Mata Rios, aged 60, was identified as the suspect in the shooting. A warrant for his arrest, charging him with murder—a first-degree felony—was issued by McAllen City Court.

Authorities mentioned that Mata Rios had expressed a desire to surrender but had not turned himself in by Sunday afternoon.

Police describe Mata Rios as approximately 6 feet tall, weighing around 195 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

Betancourt was appointed to the Texas Facilities Commission in 2020, an organization responsible for overseeing state-owned buildings’ construction and maintenance, and was expected to be re-elected in 2023, with his term set to end in 2029.

In addition to his role in government, Betancourt was the president of R&B General Construction Co. Inc. and co-owner of National Tire and Wheel LLC, among other ventures.

He also held positions on the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors and was affiliated with both the McAllen Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.