Texas Border Business
The McAllen Police Department and other authorities are searching for 60-year-old Reynaldo Mata-Rios, the suspect wanted in the fatal shooting of Eddy Betancourt, a prominent businessman and state official from Mission, Texas. Police identified Mata-Rios as the suspect in the case after Betancourt was found dead on December 27, 2025, in McAllen, and a warrant charging him with murder was issued.
Betancourt, 61, was discovered unresponsive with apparent gunshot wounds inside a business on the 800 block of North Ware Road in McAllen after a caller reported the situation to 911 just before 4 p.m. on December 27. Responding officers confirmed he had no pulse, and investigators are treating the incident as a homicide.
According to the McAllen Police Department, Mata-Rios had initially indicated he intended to surrender to authorities but did not do so. As of the latest reports, he remains at large. Authorities have described him as a Hispanic male, about 6 feet tall and 195 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. His last known address was in Pharr, Texas.
In response to the ongoing situation, Texas Governor Greg Abbott issued a public statement on January 2, 2026, formally urging the Mexican government and President Claudia Sheinbaum to work with U.S. officials to extradite Mata-Rios to Texas to face charges. “Those who harm Texans must not be allowed to flee across the Rio Grande,” Abbott said, and he emphasized the importance of cooperation to ensure legal accountability.
Betancourt had served as a member of the Texas Facilities Commission, an appointment first made by Governor Abbott in 2020 and renewed in 2023. He was also active in local business and civic roles, including leadership positions in construction and other enterprises. Community leaders have expressed deep sorrow over his death and highlighted his contributions to the Rio Grande Valley.
The McAllen Police Department continues to investigate the case and encourages anyone with information on Mata-Rios’s whereabouts to contact local law enforcement or Crime Stoppers.
