Highlights:
- Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, 50, was beheaded by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez after a dispute over a washing machine.
- Trump vowed first-degree murder charges and criticized Biden for allowing Cobos-Martinez’s release despite a removal order.
- DHS confirmed Cobos-Martinez was an undocumented immigrant with prior arrests, released after Cuba refused repatriation.
- Nagamallaiah, originally from Bengaluru, moved to the US in 2018; his son recently graduated high school.
- Fundraiser for Nagamallaiah’s family has raised over $321,000 to support them after the tragedy.
President Donald Trump has issued a forceful condemnation of the beheading of Indian-origin hotel manager Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah in Dallas, Texas, allegedly by an undocumented Cuban immigrant coworker. “The time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER under my watch,” Trump declared in a post on his Truth Social platform.
Nagamallaiah, 50, who hailed from Karnataka, India, and managed the Downtown Suites Motel in Dallas, was fatally attacked with a machete by Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, on September 10. The assault took place in front of Nagamallaiah’s wife and child, following a heated dispute over a malfunctioning washing machine.
The suspect, who is now in custody and charged with first-degree murder, reportedly had a long criminal record, including previous arrests for violent crimes such as child sex abuse, grand theft auto, and false imprisonment. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Cobos-Martinez is an undocumented immigrant with a final order of removal from the US. He had been previously held at a Dallas detention facility but was released under supervision in January because Cuba refused to accept his return due to his criminal history.
Trump, known for his tough stance on immigration, directly blamed the Biden administration for allowing Cobos-Martinez back into the community. He wrote, “This individual was previously arrested for terrible crimes, including child sex abuse, grand theft auto, and false imprisonment, but was released back into our Homeland under incompetent Joe Biden because Cuba did not want such an evil person in their Country.” Trump vowed, “This criminal, who we have in custody, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. He will be charged with murder in the first degree!”
Nagamallaiah had moved to the US in 2018 after growing up and receiving his education in Bengaluru, India. He was remembered by friends and colleagues as a hardworking and devoted family man. His teenage son recently graduated high school and is preparing to begin college.
Police reports say Cobos-Martinez chased Nagamallaiah down with a machete, attacking him until he was decapitated. The horrific murder was swiftly condemned by law enforcement officials and community leaders alike. Cobos-Martinez was arrested at the crime scene, covered in blood.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has since lodged Cobos-Martinez in the Dallas County Jail, with no bond set. Nagamallaiah’s funeral was held on September 13 in Flower Mound, Texas, attended by family, friends, and members of the community. A fundraiser set up to support the grieving family has already raised over $321,000.
The tragedy has ignited new debate over undocumented immigration and policy enforcement, with Trump vowing tougher action to “Make America Safe Again” in the wake of the Dallas killing.
