Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah: Say His Name.

Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah was born and raised in Karnataka, India. He was 50 years old when he was killed in Dallas, Texas on September 10, 2025. His life was cut short in front of his wife and son.

He grew up with drive and focus. He opened a small shop selling baby supplies, then ran two restaurants. His sister encouraged him to move to the United States. He arrived in 2020 with a dream of building a future in hospitality. He worked first in San Antonio, then moved to Dallas in 2021. He managed the Downtown Suites motel on Samuell Boulevard.

His family called him “Bob.” They said he always dreamed of creating something lasting in hospitality. His son Gaurav shared the same dream. Chandra wanted to own a hotel and start a foundation that Gaurav could continue. His death has not ended that vision. Gaurav has promised to follow his father’s path and study hospitality management in college. He said he wants to make his father proud.

On the night of September 10, police say Chandra told two employees not to use a broken washing machine. One of them, Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, argued with him. When Chandra asked another coworker to translate his instructions, Cobos-Martinez became angry. The argument turned violent. Investigators say Cobos-Martinez attacked Chandra with a machete. Disturbing footage showed the assault in the motel corridor. Chandra’s family tried to save him, but the attack continued until he was killed. During this time, Cobos-Martinez went through Mr Nagamallaiah's pockets, took his cell phone, and a key card. He then continued to attack him till Mr Nagamallaiah was beheaded. Another footage shows the accused kicking the severed head on the road before picking it up and taking it to a dumpster. The accused has been arrested and charged with capital murder.

He leaves behind his wife, Nisha, and his son, Gaurav, 18. A fundraiser has already raised close to $350,000  for his family. His funeral was held last week in Flower Mound, Texas. At his funeral, people gathered to grieve not only the loss of a man but the loss of a dreamer whose vision was cut short.

And yet, his name and his story have barely reached the public eye. A week after his death, coverage remains limited, fragmented, and in some cases careless — misreporting his name or even misgendering him. Compare this to the wall-to-wall coverage afforded to other acts of violence in this country, and the silence is deafening. This is not to compare tragedies but to point out a truth: empathy in America is often selective, and whose story gets told can depend on whose story fits neatly into existing narratives.

Say his name: Chandra Mouli Nagamallaiah.

Pray for peace. Stand against violence. And honor his memory by ensuring his story is not forgotten.