Three suspects questioned after alleged assault in bar parking lot

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 25, 2025, a man called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report an alleged assault at a bar located in Tafuna.

Three suspects were questioned regarding the assault, whereupon one was arrested and later charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

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

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

According to the court affidavit, on Jan. 25th, at around 8:20 p.m., a man (later identified as the reporter) contacted the TPS in regards to an assault case at a bar in Tafuna, and when police officers arrived in response to the call, they met up with the reporter who briefed them about what happened.

The reporter said that he came outside to drop off his food inside his vehicle when he noticed the victim surrounded by numerous people with blood coming down his face.

At the same time, EMS arrived and the victim was transported in the EMS unit to the LBJ Hospital.

Further investigation later revealed that Felesi Vailolo, Faleniko Kitiona and Faleono Lemisio allegedly assaulted a man (later identified as the victim) outside the bar. The three suspects all work at Starkist and are friends.

One of the suspects allegedly approached the victim to distract him from the other two suspects standing behind him. Lemisio then allegedly blind-sided the victim by punching him in the mouth several times. Vailolo also threw a stone at the victim causing an open wound on his head.

The victim was later released from the hospital and was taken home.

During the investigation of the three suspects (Lemisio, Kitiona and Vailolo) at the TPS, the victim who was highly intoxicated wasn’t able to identify any of the people who assaulted him.

The investigation of the incident revealed that Vailolo admitted to assaulting the victim with a rock and he was later confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility. Vailolo did not mention any involvement by Lemisio and Kitiona, until the officers contacted the victim again.

Suspect #1 — Faleniko Kitiona was interviewed at the TPS, and he stated that he came outside to take his plate of food in his vehicle and witnessed Vailolo getting pulled back from the crowd. He also saw the victim’s face covered with blood. Kitionia was later released to go home.

Suspect #2 — Felesi Vailolo was Mirandized and agreed to provide a verbal statement. Vailolo stated that it all started when they were inside the bar. It was time for their shift to perform when the victim kept bumping his shoulders next to his. Vailolo claimed that he ignored the victim since he was highly intoxicated. However, the victim walked up to him and pushed [him] to the wall.

Vailolo explained that he was too upset and walked outside of the bar where he was greeted by the victim. Suspect #2 claimed that the victim then asked him if he was the person dating his ex-girlfriend? He responded that he is not dating anyone and that she’s only in his shift and of course she hangs out with people from her shift.

He stated that he was shocked when the victim then punched him in the mouth once and he fell to the ground. He got hold of a stone and struck the victim on the head. Vailolo sustained minor scratches on the back of his neck and also had blood on his hands. EMS was contacted to treat Vailolo’s injuries.

Vailolo was later booked for 48 hours at the TCF to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

Suspect #3 — Faleono Lemisio was also Mirandized and was willing to answer questions regarding the incident. According to Lemisio, he wasn’t present during the incident. He said he heard the crowd yelling for help and assistance and that’s when he ran to where the crowd was and saw the victim on the ground with blood all over his face. He claimed that he held the victim’s head towards him and waited for the police to arrive.

Lemisio was later released to go home after his interview.

Police officers also interviewed the victim at the LBJ Hospital. According to the victim’s statement, he was assaulted by men at the bar but he couldn’t remember the names of those who assaulted him.

On Jan. 26th, the victim was interviewed again where he verbally stated that he was approached by Kitiona outside when Vailolo and Lemisio blindsided him and punched him in the mouth. The victim confirmed that it was Vailolo who threw a stone at his head. The victim also stated that the commotion started from when he was dancing with a female inside the bar and that got the suspects upset.

The main suspect, Felesi Vailolo is identified as a 26-year-old U.S National, while Faleniko Kitiona is a 19-year-old citizen of Samoa and the other suspect, Faleono Atonio is a 25-year old citizen of Samoa.