Indian Man Beheaded by Co-Worker After Minor Dispute in Dallas
Report by: Raja Zahid Akhtar Khanzada
Dallas – A horrifying incident in East Dallas, Texas, has shocked the Indian community, where a 50-year-old Indian-origin man was brutally murdered and beheaded by his co-worker in front of his wife and teenage son.
The gruesome attack took place on the morning of September 10 at the Downtown Suites Motel on Samuell Boulevard, where the victim, Chandra Nagamallaiah, had been serving as a manager for the past three years.
According to Dallas police, the dispute began when Nagamallaiah and the suspect, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, argued over the use of a broken washing machine. What started as a verbal altercation quickly escalated into a violent confrontation. Suddenly, Cobos-Martinez pulled out a knife and repeatedly stabbed Nagamallaiah, forcing him to flee toward the motel office while severely injured.
Inside the office, Nagamallaiah’s wife and 18-year-old son were already present. They desperately tried to stop the attacker, but Cobos-Martinez continued the assault. In a horrific act, he beheaded Nagamallaiah in front of them, then kicked the severed head toward the parking lot before later placing it in a dumpster.
The chilling scene was captured on the motel’s security cameras, clearly showing a trail of blood from the room to the office.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) described the killing as “unthinkable” and admitted that Cobos-Martinez had been released from ICE custody earlier in 2025 under an order of supervision because deportation flights to Cuba were unavailable at the time. ICE acknowledged that, in hindsight, releasing him was a mistake and he should not have been free.
The suspecte, a Cuban national, has been arrested and transferred to Dallas County Jail, where he has been charged with capital murder. Police have also obtained a search warrant to collect further evidence from the crime scene.
Chandra Nagamallaiah, originally from the Indian state of Karnataka, was known as a hardworking, honest man who deeply loved his family.
The Consulate General of India in Houston expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, stating:
“We are in continuous contact with the bereaved family and providing all possible assistance. The accused is in Dallas Police custody, and we are closely monitoring the case.”
The shocking murder has caused immense grief, anger, and outrage among the Indian community and other Asian immigrant groups.
On social media platform X (formerly Twitter), many users expressed their anger and frustration, questioning why such a brutal incident received limited coverage in mainstream media and demanding better protection measures for immigrant workers.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign has been launched to provide financial support to Nagamallaiah’s family during this tragic and difficult time.
