Border killing investigations are underway after a prominent Texas businessman and appointee of Gov. Greg Abbott was shot and killed at a business in McAllen, a key border city in the Rio Grande Valley. Police say the killing occurred Saturday afternoon and has been classified as a homicide, raising concerns in a region already strained by crime and security challenges.
McAllen police identified the victim as Eddy Betancourt, 61, of Mission, Texas. Officers responded to the 800 block of North Ware Road after a 911 call reported a man on the floor who was possibly shot and not breathing. When officers arrived, they found Betancourt unresponsive with no pulse and an apparent gunshot wound. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
On Sunday, police identified Reynaldo Mata-Rios, 60, as the suspect in the Border killing. Authorities obtained a warrant charging Mata-Rios with murder, a first-degree felony, through the McAllen Municipal Court. Police said Mata-Rios indicated an intention to surrender, but as of Sunday afternoon, he remained at large. Officials released his physical description as the search continued.
Betancourt held a significant role in state government and the private sector. Gov. Abbott appointed him to the Texas Facilities Commission in 2020, an agency responsible for overseeing the construction, maintenance, and leasing of state-owned buildings. Abbott reappointed Betancourt in 2023, with his term set to expire in 2029.
Beyond public service, Betancourt served as president of R&B General Construction Co. Inc., co-owned National Tire and Wheel LLC, and worked as a general retail partner manager for E2H Investment. He also served on the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors and held memberships in the McAllen Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.
Police have not released a motive for the Border killing, stating the investigation remains active as authorities work to locate the suspect.
