A 50-year-old Indian-origin motel manager was brutally killed in front of his wife and teenage son in Dallas on Wednesday morning after a dispute with a co-worker escalated into a fatal machete attack, police said.
The victim, identified as Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, originally from Karnataka, was the manager at the Downtown Suites motel. According to the Dallas Police Department, he was attacked by his colleague, 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, following an argument over a broken washing machine.
Authorities said the dispute began when Nagamallaiah asked another person to translate his instructions to Cobos-Martinez instead of speaking to him directly. The suspect allegedly took offense, left the scene briefly, and returned armed with a machete.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Cobos-Martinez confronting and attacking Nagamallaiah. The victim fled toward the motel office, where his wife and 18-year-old son were present, but the suspect pursued him and carried out the fatal assault despite their desperate attempts to intervene.
Police confirmed that Cobos-Martinez has a prior criminal record in Houston, including arrests for auto theft and assault. He has been arrested and charged with capital murder. He is currently being held without bond. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment without parole or the death penalty.
The Consulate General of India in Houston expressed condolences and said it is in close contact with the bereaved family. “We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police,” the consulate stated on X.
Friends and relatives described Nagamallaiah, fondly known as Bob, as a devoted husband, a loving father, and a kind-hearted man who was respected in the community. “This unimaginable tragedy was not only sudden but deeply traumatic. Bob’s life was taken in a brutal attack that occurred in front of his wife and son, who bravely tried to protect him,” a statement from friends read.
The shocking nature of the crime has sent ripples of grief through the local Indian community, with many rallying to support his family. A fundraiser has been launched to help cover funeral costs, immediate living expenses, and the college education of Nagamallaiah’s son.
