New Delhi: US Congressman Ro Khanna has condemned the gruesome murder of an Indian man in Dallas, calling it “horrific” and questioning how the accused was previously released despite multiple arrests.
The victim, Chandra Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, was the manager of Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Boulevard. He was killed in front of his wife and 18-year-old son after an argument over a broken washing machine with the suspect, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a Cuban national.
CCTV footage of the attack, which has gone viral, shows Cobos-Martinez chasing Nagamallaiah down the motel corridor. Despite the family’s attempts to intervene, Cobos-Martinez reportedly pushed the victim’s wife aside and fatally beheaded Nagamallaiah. Another clip showed him kicking the severed head and placing it in a dumpster.
In a post on X, Congressman Khanna said:
“The brutal beheading of a hardworking Indian American immigrant in front of his wife and son is horrific. The murderer had multiple prior arrests for violent theft and child endangerment and was undocumented. He should not have been free on American streets.”
Police records from Dallas County Jail indicate that Cobos-Martinez had prior convictions in California and arrests in Florida and Houston. His current immigration status is reportedly on hold.
According to witness accounts, the confrontation began when Nagamallaiah intervened as Cobos-Martinez and a woman were attempting to use the broken washing machine. The suspect became agitated over communication issues and reportedly attacked the victim with a machete.
Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel arrived on the scene as Cobos-Martinez walked away, covered in blood and carrying the weapon. Police took him into custody shortly afterward.
The Consulate General of India in Houston said it is closely monitoring the case and remains in touch with the victim’s family, offering all possible assistance.
The incident has sparked outrage both in the US and India, raising concerns about public safety and enforcement of prior convictions for violent offenders.
