Alleged assault happens over food

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 1, 2025, a victim called the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) to report that her nephew allegedly assaulted her over food, according to court documents filed in District Court on Dec. 2nd.

Alvin Luki was later charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine not to exceed $300.00, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000.00, or both; and,

Count 3: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not to exceed $1,000.00, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court records, a woman (later identified as the victim) contacted the FPS and claimed that Mr. Luki (later identified as the suspect) allegedly assaulted her by throwing a bread-cutting knife at her and punching her in the head twice.

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival, met two women. An older woman introduced herself as the suspect's grandmother. The younger woman introduced herself as the victim. Both women were interviewed.

According to the suspect's grandmother, "it was just a small altercation and nothing physical happened". She also said that they can settle the matter at home as a family.

On the other hand, the victim explained that it all started in the morning when their family was having lunch. She stated that the suspect woke up, walked to the kitchen to get food, and grabbed the food that had been saved for her, not the suspect. Her aunt told the suspect that the food was meant for the victim, which upset the suspect.

As a result, the suspect started yelling profanities at everyone in the house, and when she tried to calm him down, the suspect threw her with a bread knife while she was carrying her child.

The victim continued that luckily, she turned her back towards the suspect, and the knife hit her back. After that, the suspect walked towards her and punched her in the head twice.

The victim also claimed that the suspect's grandmother spoils the suspect so much that even when the suspect does something wrong, she would never blame him or do anything to him.

A witness who was present during the incident also provided a statement. She told the officers that the incident began when she saved food for the victim and the suspect went and tried to eat the food without permission. They scolded him, and the suspect became angry, shouting. The victim tried to calm the suspect down, but he threw her with the knife and then got up and punched the victim in the head. The witness also noted that the victim was carrying her one-year-old daughter at the time of the incident.

The officers later canvassed the area to locate the suspect, whose description was provided by the victim. The officers found the suspect playing darts at a neighbor's house. When the officers approached the house, the suspect fled into the mountains.

The officers chased after the suspect but were unsuccessful. The investigation later revealed that the victim is the suspect's aunt, and both live in the same residence.

The defendant is identified as a 20-year-old citizen of Samoa.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]