Man in wheelchair allegedly assaulted with cement block

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 23, 2025, a woman called the Leone Police Substation (LPS) regarding her sister-in-law, who allegedly assaulted her boyfriend, who is in a wheelchair.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree (DV), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000.

Court records revealed that on October 23, 2025, at about 9:18 p.m., an individual contacted the LPS and reported that Grace Kelekolio (the suspect) allegedly assaulted her boyfriend (the victim), throwing a cement block and threatening to kill him.

Police responded to the call and arrived at the scene, in Malaeloa. Upon arrival, they saw a woman (the reporter), who briefed the officers regarding the incident.

The reporter stated that her husband’s sister (suspect), who lives next to them, always argues with her boyfriend every day. While the reporter briefed the officers, they saw a man (the victim) in a wheelchair exit the neighbor’s house.

The officers next interviewed the victim, who told them he had no idea why his girlfriend had been acting strange earlier. He continued to explain they were just having a normal verbal argument, but out of nowhere, the suspect threw a stone at him, which caused swelling and bruises on his arm. The victim also noted that the suspect had threatened to kill him.

The victim was asked about the stone, and he pointed it out. The officers entered the house and observed a stone that appeared to be a cement block.

The victim was later treated by EMS but refused to be transported to the hospital.

The suspect was also interviewed, and she informed the officers that she had previously worked at StarKist. She claimed that at that time, “she heard a lot of rumors in her head about her boyfriend having an affair with a girl who is their next-door neighbor.”

The investigation later revealed that the suspect and victim had been dating for about 10 years and had been living together.

The suspect was later apprehended and Mirandized, to which she understood and refused to provide any statement.

She was arrested and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available District Court session.

The defendant is identified as a 34-year-old U.S national.