An Indian-origin man was attacked and beheaded with a machete following an argument with his employee at a motel in the US city of Dallas, media reports said.
The deceased person was identified as Chandra Nagamallaiah.
The incident occurred in Dallas on Wednesday.
Nagamallaiah, who hailed from Karnataka, was attacked after he asked Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, 37, not to use the broken washing machine.
According to an arrest affidavit, a witness told the police that Cobos-Martinez became upset because the victim was speaking to her to translate, rather than speaking directly to him, reported KPLCTV.
That was when surveillance video shows Cobos-Martinez leaving the room, pulling out a machete and beginning to attack Nagamallaiah, according to the affidavit, the American news channel reported.
Witness Stephanie Elliott told the news channel that Nagamallaiah tried to run away but fell, and the suspect continued stabbing him.
“He just kept hitting him and hitting until he decapitated him,” Elliott said. “I could not believe that anybody would do another human being that way.”
Police said the attacker has been taken into custody.
The records identify him as an undocumented immigrant, reported NBC News.
The Department of Homeland Security has reportedly identified the attacker as a Cuban national.
The department, which oversees Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said a previous administration had “released” him after “Cuba would not accept him because of his criminal history”, reported NBC News.
According to reports, the family members of the victim were present at the scene of the attack.
A video of the incident has reportedly gone viral online.
Indian Consulate mourns the death
The Indian Consulate in Houston condoled the death of Nagamallaiah and wrote on X: “Consulate General of India, Houston, condoles the tragic death of Mr. Chandra Nagamallaiah, an Indian National, killed brutally at his workplace in Dallas, Tx.”
“We are in touch with the family and offering all possible assistance. The accused is in the custody of Dallas Police. We are following up on the matter closely,” he said.
