The beheading of a Karnataka man in Dallas has shocked the Indian community there. The cold-blooded murder, carried out in broad daylight in front of the victim’s wife and son, has left neighbours and the Indian fraternity deeply stunned. Fifty-year-old Chandra Nagamallaiah worked as the manager of Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Boulevard, east of Downtown. He was attacked many times with a machete by 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, who has a violent criminal history and was recently released from police custody.
The killing occurred on the morning of September 10 at the Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Boulevard, where Chandra Nagamallaiah had been managing operations for the past two to three years. The chilling video surfaced online where we could see Chandra’s wife and son screaming as he was chased by the culprit. Both his wife and his son tried to save him, but were helpless. They watched Martinez behead him, kicked his head into the parking lot, and placed it in a dumpster.
What happened at Dallas?
According to the Dallas police, the conflict began when he asked his employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, not to use a broken washing machine. The argument quickly escalated, with Cobos-Martinez allegedly stabbing Nagamallaiah multiple times before chasing him toward the motel’s front office.
Who Is Yordanis Cobos-Martinez?
The police arrested Cobos-Martinez at the scene. He was wearing a blood-soaked T-shirt and had the machete, Nagamallaiah’s phone, and a key card with him. Later, he admitted to the killing during questioning. Cobos-Martinez is now on an immigration hold. He has a history of violent crimes. Records show he was convicted in California and had previous arrests in Florida and Houston. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) told Fox News earlier this year that he was released from custody on January 13, even though a removal order said there was “no significant likelihood for removal in the foreseeable future.”
Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, was remembered by colleagues and community members as a hardworking family man. The Consulate General of India in Houston expressed “deep condolences” and confirmed it is assisting the bereaved family while closely monitoring the case.
The killing has shocked the Indian community living abroad. It has caused outrage online, with many people on X questioning why mainstream media has not covered it enough. Users are also raising concerns about anti-Asian violence and the safety of immigrant workers. A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help Nagamallaiah’s family.
