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A disturbing event has shocked the East Dallas community in Texas after a 50-year-old man of Indian descent was unlawfully killed and decapitated by his coworker in front of his wife and teenage son.
The deadly act happened in the early hours of September 10 at the Downtown Suites Motel on Samuell Boulevard. The victim, Chandra Nagamallaiah, had been employed there as a manager for three years.
Dallas law enforcement reports that the altercation originated when Nagamallaiah instructed his employee, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, not to operate a broken washing machine. The disagreement quickly turned violent.
Without warning, Cobos-Martinez pulled out a knife and stabbed Nagamallaiah multiple times. The wounded man fled toward the motel office, while his wife and 18-year-old son, who were inside, attempted to help, but Cobos-Martinez was uncontrollable.
The suspect then beheaded Nagamallaiah in front of his family, kicked the severed head into the parking lot, and later deposited it in a trash bin. Security footage from the motel captured the horrifying scene, showing a trail of blood from the room to the front office.
The incident prompted a response from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who described the killing as “unimaginable.” They also revealed that Cobos-Martinez had been released from ICE custody earlier in 2025 under supervision, due to the absence of deportation flights to Cuba. ICE admitted that releasing him was a mistake, and he should not have been free.
The suspect, a Cuban national, has been detained and faces capital murder charges. He is currently held at Dallas County Jail, with authorities having obtained a search warrant to gather further evidence from the crime scene.
Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, India, was recognized as a diligent, honest, and family-focused man who deeply loved his family.
The Indian Consulate General in Houston expressed profound sadness over the tragedy, stating: “We remain in close contact with the family and are providing all necessary support. The accused is in Dallas Police custody, and we are monitoring the case closely.”
This brutal murder has evoked grief and anger, not only among the Indian community but also across other Asian immigrant groups. On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), many users voiced outrage over the limited media coverage and raised concerns regarding immigrant worker safety and the rising tide of anti-Asian violence.
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