What happened?
A gruesome attack unfolded Wednesday morning at the Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Boulevard in East Dallas. Police say 50-year-old Chandra Nagamallaiah was brutally stabbed and decapitated by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, during a dispute.
The attack
According to a witness, the suspect chased Nagamallaiah with a machete, striking him multiple times before cutting off his head. Despite desperate attempts by the victim’s wife and son to stop the attack, Cobos-Martinez continued the assault.
An affidavit states the confrontation began after the victim told the suspect not to use a broken washing machine. The suspect became upset, pulled a machete, and attacked. Witnesses reported that after the beheading, Cobos-Martinez kicked the victim’s head into the parking lot before placing it in a dumpster.
Arrest and charges
Police arrested Cobos-Martinez nearby, still armed with the machete and carrying the victim’s cell phone and key card. Authorities say he admitted to the killing.
Cobos-Martinez, a Cuban national, faces a capital murder charge and is being held in the Dallas County Jail on an ICE detainer. Public records show he has prior criminal ties to California, Florida, and Houston.
Community reaction
Dallas police called the attack one of the most violent in recent memory. “Even though he was armed with a bladed weapon, the officers showed restraint and used minimal force to apprehend him,” Assistant Chief Terrance Rhodes said.
The motel’s property owners described Nagamallaiah as a hardworking manager who had run the location for several years. His death has left the community shaken.
