Police: Hidalgo County appraisal board member shot to death at his McAllen office

Mission businessman and Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors member Eddy Betancourt was found shot to death in McAllen Saturday afternoon.

According to a news release from the McAllen Police Department, officers responded to a business located in the 800 block of North Ware Road after a person found 61-year-old Betancourt with an apparent gunshot wound and non-responsive just before 4 p.m. Saturday.

Police are treating Betancourt’s death as a homicide and are asking the public to report any information about his killing to the McAllen Police Department at (956) 681-2000 or McAllen Crime Stoppers at (956) 687-8477.

“This investigation remains ongoing,” the release said. “The McAllen Police Department continues to combine its efforts with local, state and federal agencies to further resolve this crime and secure the arrest of the person(s) involved.”

Betancourt’s construction business, R&B General Construction Company, is located in the 800 block of North Ware Road, but there was no obvious sign of a police presence there at about 11 p.m. Saturday.

Betancourt, who was deeply involved in the area’s business community, was the president of R&B General Construction Company. He also co-owned National Tire and Wheel LLC and served as a general retail partner manager for E2H Investments.

As a member of the Hidalgo County Appraisal District Board of Directors, Betancourt played a role in overseeing the agency that determines taxable property values across Hidalgo County. Those valuations directly affect business operating costs, commercial real estate values, school district funding, and municipal revenues throughout the Rio Grande Valley.

Hidalgo County Judge Richard F. Cortez described Betancourt as a respected businessman and dedicated public servant known for his leadership and willingness to serve.

“On behalf of Hidalgo County, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and many friends of Eddy Betancourt,” Cortez wrote in a statement. “Eddy was a tireless advocate for our community. His leadership, generosity, and passion for service made a lasting impact on our county. He will be remembered with great respect and gratitude.”

Betancourt also served as a member of the McAllen Board of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

In 2023, Gov. Greg Abbott reappointed him to the Texas Facilities Commission, which controls state buildings, grounds, and property.