Introduction to the Incident
A motel manager was attacked and decapitated by an employee following an argument, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit. Dallas police responded to a reported stabbing about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Downtown Suites motel in the 3400 block of Samuell Boulevard. At the scene, police arrested Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, who faces a murder charge in the death of Chandra Nagamallaiah, 50, police said.
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The Events Leading Up to the Attack
According to Cobos-Martinez‘s arrest affidavit, a witness told police that she and Cobos-Martinez were employees of the motel and were cleaning a room when Nagamallaiah approached them and began speaking to them about a broken washing machine at the motel. The witness told police Cobos-Martinez became angry that Nagamallaiah was not speaking directly to him and was instead speaking to the witness to translate. Video showed Cobos-Martinez leaving the motel room and producing a machete, which he allegedly used to attack Nagamallaiah, the affidavit said.
Crime in The News
The Attack and Its Aftermath
Nagamallaiah then began fleeing through the parking lot of the motel, screaming, the affidavit said, as Cobos-Martinez chased him. As they reached the front office of the motel, Cobos-Martinez continued cutting Nagamallaiah with the machete and pushed off Nagamallaiah’s wife and son as they came out and attempted to stop the attack. The attack continued until Nagamallaiah was decapitated and Cobos-Martinez ultimately put the victim’s head in a dumpster, the affidavit said. According to KXAS-TV (NBC5), Nagamallaiah was the manager of the motel.
Arrest and Charges
Cobos-Martinez then fled the scene and was detained by police shortly after the attack. He was covered in blood, still armed with the machete and had several of Nagamallaiah’s personal belongings with him at the time of his arrest, the affidavit said. Cobos-Martinez also allegedly admitted to the killing when questioned by police, according to the affidavit. He was booked into the Dallas County jail, where he faces a capital murder by terroristic threat charge and is also being held on an immigration detainer. Bail had not been set as of Friday morning.
Immigration Status and Previous Charges
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced on Friday that it lodged a detainer for the federal arrest and removal of Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, who is also an illegal alien from Cuba. According to Harris County court records, Cobos-Martinez was previously charged with indecency with a child and assault causing bodily injury in 2018. Court records show the indecency charge was dismissed because of insufficient evidence and showed Cobos-Martinez pleaded guilty in the assault case and received a one-year jail sentence in January 2023. He was also arrested in California in 2017 after he allegedly attempted to carjack a woman while naked, according to The Sacramento Bee. ICE officials said in the news release that Yordanis Cobos-Martinez has a past final order of removal to Cuba. He was recently in ICE Dallas custody until he was released on an order of supervision in January.
Conclusion
The attack on Chandra Nagamallaiah was a brutal and senseless act of violence that has left a community in shock. The fact that the perpetrator, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, had a history of violent behavior and was in the country illegally raises questions about the effectiveness of our immigration system and the need for stronger measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future. As the case against Cobos-Martinez moves forward, it is essential that justice is served, and that the victim’s family receives the support and closure they deserve.
FAQs
Q: What was the cause of the argument between Cobos-Martinez and Nagamallaiah?
A: The argument started when Nagamallaiah approached Cobos-Martinez and a witness while they were cleaning a room and began speaking to them about a broken washing machine at the motel. Cobos-Martinez became angry that Nagamallaiah was not speaking directly to him and was instead speaking to the witness to translate.
Q: What was the nature of the attack on Nagamallaiah?
A: The attack was brutal and involved Cobos-Martinez chasing Nagamallaiah through the parking lot of the motel, cutting him with a machete, and ultimately decapitating him.
Q: What are the charges against Cobos-Martinez?
A: Cobos-Martinez faces a capital murder by terroristic threat charge and is also being held on an immigration detainer.
Q: What is Cobos-Martinez’s immigration status?
A: Cobos-Martinez is an illegal alien from Cuba with a past final order of removal to Cuba.
Q: Did Cobos-Martinez have any previous charges or convictions?
A: Yes, Cobos-Martinez was previously charged with indecency with a child and assault causing bodily injury in 2018, and he pleaded guilty to the assault charge in January 2023. He was also arrested in California in 2017 for attempting to carjack a woman while naked.
