Justino Rosales-Betancourt, a 32-year-old Hispanic male, tragically lost his life on June 29, 2020, in Tyler, Texas. The incident occurred in the 5300 block of Highway 110 North, where Justino and his brother, Jose Betancourt, were found dead in the front yard of a house. Both men had gang tattoos and were undocumented immigrants. The shooting also left a third victim, 20-year-old Saul Morado, with non-life-threatening injuries.
He was taken to UT Health in Tyler by a private vehicle.
The investigation into the deaths of Justino Rosales-Betancourt and Jose Betancourt revealed that the incident was suspected to be gang-related. Ramiro Ortiz, a 34-year-old Hispanic male from Tyler, was identified as the primary suspect in the case. Ortiz was arrested on July 3, 2020, and charged with the murders of Justino and Jose. He was held on a $1.5 million bond. According to an arrest warrant, the motive behind the shooting may have been related to money owed from a drug deal. Ortiz's wife informed the police that he sold cocaine and had left their home on the night of the incident to collect money owed to him.
The investigation involved multiple agencies, including Homeland Security, and officials continued to search for additional information and evidence related to the case. The tragic deaths of Justino Rosales-Betancourt and his brother highlighted the ongoing issues of gang violence and drug-related crimes in the area. The community mourned the loss of the two brothers, who were remembered for their love for family and soccer.
