DALLAS, TEXAS – A horrific scene unfolded at the Downtown Suites motel in East Dallas Wednesday morning, where a man was brutally attacked with a machete and beheaded. Police have identified the victim as 50-year-old Chandra Nagamallaiah and have taken his alleged assailant, 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, into custody. Cobos-Martinez has been charged with capital murder in connection with the violent crime.
The Discovery and Initial Response
Dallas Police Department officers were dispatched to the Downtown Suites motel, located at 3400 Samuell Boulevard, around 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday following reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, law enforcement and Dallas Fire-Rescue personnel discovered the victim, Nagamallaiah, with multiple stab wounds from an edged weapon. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. Video footage from a CBS News Texas Chopper showed a body and a trail of blood outside a ground-floor room of the motel, underscoring the graphic nature of the incident.
Witness Accounts Paint a Grim Picture
Eyewitness accounts shared with local media outlets paint a disturbing picture of the events leading up to Nagamallaiah’s death. One witness, who preferred to remain anonymous for safety reasons, reported that both the suspect, Cobos-Martinez, and the victim, Nagamallaiah, were employees of the motel. According to this witness and others, the attack began following an argument on the motel property. The suspect allegedly chased Nagamallaiah with a machete, striking him multiple times.
One witness, Stephanie Elliott, recounted seeing the victim attempt to flee toward the motel’s office, where his wife and son were present. However, Nagamallaiah slipped and fell on the motel property. The suspect then allegedly continued the assault, repeatedly striking the fallen victim. Elliott told KXAS-TV that the suspect continued stabbing until he decapitated Nagamallaiah, describing the scene as unbelievable. Another 911 caller reportedly stated that the killer placed the victim’s head in a trash container, though police have not officially confirmed all details of the beheading itself, only that the victim was killed with an edged weapon multiple times. Reports also indicated that the victim’s son attempted to intervene with a bat but was unable to stop the attack.
Suspect Apprehended, Investigation Underway
Dallas Police Executive Assistant Chief Terrence Rhodes stated during a press conference that officers, who were proactively patrolling the area, responded rapidly and apprehended Cobos-Martinez approximately one block from the motel. Rhodes commended the officers for showing “tremendous restraint” and using minimal force to take the armed suspect into custody. A machete, believed to be the weapon used in the attack, was reportedly found on the ground in the parking lot where the arrest occurred. Evidence markers were also observed at a nearby liquor store, where investigators were seen photographing and bagging a large, bloody knife, possibly connected to the homicide.
According to arrest affidavits, the violence may have been sparked by an argument after Nagamallaiah told Cobos-Martinez not to use a broken washing machine in a motel room. During the assault, Cobos-Martinez allegedly went through Nagamallaiah’s pockets and fought off the victim’s wife and son as they attempted to intervene. Investigators have not yet officially confirmed a motive beyond the initial argument and the ongoing investigation is exploring all angles.
Background of the Suspect
Jail records indicate that Yordanis Cobos-Martinez is an immigrant. Further investigation revealed that Cobos-Martinez was reportedly on probation out of California for prior assault charges. Sources suggest he had a fugitive warrant from California in effect at the time of the Dallas incident. He had previously been arrested in Lake Tahoe in 2017 for attacking a woman and attempting to steal her car, and in Houston for aggravated assault in 2018. His California case was resolved in 2023, leading to a prison sentence and subsequent probation, which he reportedly violated.
Community Impact and Ongoing News
The brutal nature of the crime has sent shockwaves through the Dallas community. This incident is being closely followed as top news in Texas, with many residents seeking to understand how such violence could occur. As this is a developing story, the Dallas Police Department is asking anyone with additional information to contact Homicide Detective Cody Clark at 214-671-3584 or via email at cody.clark@dallaspolice.gov, referencing case number 130413-2025. The investigation into this tragic event remains ongoing, and further details are expected as they become available. This trending crime has highlighted concerns about public safety and the complex backgrounds of individuals involved in violent incidents.
