A South Texas businessman and gubernatorial appointee was shot to death last week, and the suspected gunman remains at large despite promising to surrender, police said.
Eddy Betancourt, 61, died December 27 inside a business on North Ware Road in central McAllen. Police issued a murder warrant the following day for Reynaldo Mata-Rios, 60.
An unidentified 911 caller reported finding Betancourt on the floor at 4 p.m. The caller told dispatch the “[victim] is on the floor [possibly] shot” and “[not] breathing.”
Mata-Rios told officials he would turn himself in at the McAllen Police Department. He hasn’t appeared.
The suspect last lived in nearby Pharr, Texas. Police described him as a 6-foot Hispanic male weighing 195 pounds with brown hair and eyes.
Betancourt served on the Texas Facilities Commission after Gov. Greg Abbott appointed him in 2020. Abbott reappointed him in 2023 for a term ending in 2029.
The commission oversees the construction and maintenance of state buildings. Betancourt also served as vice chair of the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board.
He led R&B General Construction Co., Inc., and co-owned National Tire and Wheel LLC. His business portfolio included managing retail partnerships for E2H Investments.
Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez called him a “tireless advocate” whose leadership made a “lasting impact” on the county, Fox 4 KDFW reported.
Police haven’t revealed a motive for the shooting. Federal, state, and local agencies are searching for Mata-Rios.
Authorities ask anyone with information to call McAllen Crime Stoppers at 956-687-TIPS. Tips leading to an arrest may qualify for cash rewards.
