US President Donald Trump on Sunday vowed that the accused in the brutal murder of Indian national Chandra Nagamallaiah will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and charged with first-degree murder.
According to local police, Chandra Nagamallaiah, 50, was attacked with a machete outside the Downtown Suites motel in east Dallas in the early hours of September 10. The attack, which occurred in front of the victim’s wife and child, reportedly followed an argument.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday (local time), Trump said he was aware of the “terrible reports” surrounding the murder of Nagamallaiah – a well-respected resident of Dallas – who was brutally beheaded in front of his wife and son by what Trump described as an “illegal alien” from Cuba.
Trump also criticized former President Joe Biden, blaming him for the accused being released back into the US during his administration.
Trump said, “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. This individual was previously arrested for terrible crimes, including child sex abuse, grand theft auto, and false imprisonment, but was released back into our Homeland under incompetent Joe Biden because Cuba did not want such an evil person in their Country. Rest assured, the time for being soft on these Illegal Immigrant Criminals is OVER under my watch! 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. This criminal, who we have in custody, will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the Law. He will be charged with murder in the first degree!”
The killing has reignited debates over US immigration enforcement.
The accused, 37-year-old Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, has been charged with capital murder and remains in Dallas County Jail. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has placed a federal detainer on the Cuban national, who was reportedly in the country illegally.
The Consulate General of India in Houston confirmed that it is closely monitoring the case and providing support to Nagamallaiah’s family.
“Consulate General of India, Houston, condoles the tragic death of Mr. Chandra Nagamallaiah, an Indian national, killed brutally at his workplace in Dallas,” the mission said in a statement. “We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance.”
(With inputs from ANI)