Dallas — US President Donald Trump on Sunday strongly condemned the gruesome killing of Indian-origin man Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah, who was beheaded in front of his wife and son by a Cuban national living illegally in the country. Calling the incident “terrible,” Trump vowed to take strict action against the accused, stressing that the “time for being soft” on immigrant criminals was over under his administration.
Trump’s statement
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“I am aware of the terrible reports regarding the murder of Chandra Nagamallaiah, a well-respected person in Dallas, Texas, who was brutally beheaded, in front of his wife and son, by an ILLEGAL ALIEN from Cuba who should have never been in our Country.”
The Republican leader further assured that the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, would face prosecution to the fullest extent of the law. Trump underlined that he would be charged with first-degree murder.
Background of the accused
According to Trump, Cobos-Martinez had a criminal history, with previous arrests for child sex abuse, false imprisonment, and grand theft auto. However, he claimed the Cuban national was released back into the United States under President Joe Biden’s administration after Cuba refused to take him back.
“Rest assured, the time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER under my watch. This criminal, who we have in custody, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law,” Trump said.
The brutal attack
Nagamallaiah, who worked as a Dallas motel manager, was reportedly attacked after he stopped Cobos-Martinez from using a broken washing machine at the property. In a shocking act of violence, the accused beheaded him in front of his wife and young son, leaving bystanders horrified.
Eyewitnesses described the attacker’s behaviour as “erratic.” One told NBC DFW, “I don’t know how to explain, but he was there and not there at the same time.”
Police and ICE response
Police arrested Cobos-Martinez shortly after the incident, finding him in a blood-stained T-shirt. Court records revealed that the accused admitted to the crime during interrogation and reportedly left the victim’s head in a trash bin.
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency termed the beheading “unthinkable” and pledged full cooperation in the investigation. Videos circulating online captured chilling moments of the aftermath, including the suspect discarding the machete used in the crime.
Political fallout
The killing has intensified debates around immigration policies and public safety in the United States. Trump, who has long campaigned on a strict anti-illegal immigration stance, directly blamed President Biden’s administration for allowing Cobos-Martinez to remain in the country despite his criminal background.
“Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Border Czar Tom Homan, and many others in my Administration, are doing an incredible job in MAKING AMERICA SAFE AGAIN,” Trump asserted.
Conclusion
The brutal killing of Chandra Nagamallaiah has not only shocked the Indian-American community but also reignited political battles over border security and immigration laws. With the suspect in custody, authorities are expected to proceed with charges of first-degree murder, while the victim’s family grapples with an irreparable loss.