Grandfather reports alleged assault of his grandson and other minors

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 1, 2025, a concerned grandfather contacted the Tafuna Police Substation regarding a suspect, who allegedly threatened to assault three minors, which included his grandson, with a machete.

The suspect was apprehended and later charged with:

Count 1 & 3 : Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both imprisonment and fine;

Count 2, 4 & 6: Assault in Third Degree, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 5: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $5,000.

(Samoa News has withheld names of those involved to protect the identities of the minors involved in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, on March 1st, at about 8:00 p.m., an individual (later identified as the suspect) was allegedly causing a disturbance in the village.

An investigation revealed that the suspect was yelling profanities and challenged a 16-year-old (victim #1) to a fight. The suspect also threw another minor (victim #2) with a machete and threatened to chop his head off, and then chased down victim #2 to his house, while he was running away. The suspect left victim #2’s house and proceeded to another minor’s house (victim #3).

The suspect went to victim #3’s house with the same machete and threatened to cut off the victim’s head in front of his grandparents and siblings. Before the suspect approached victim #3’s residence, he threw him with rocks from a dark place that frightened the victim and made him run for his life.

Police officers arrived at the scene around 9:28 p.m. where they were briefed by the reporter.

According to the reporter’s verbal statement, he and his grandkids were preparing food for Sunday when the suspect showed up at the house yelling profanities in Samoan. The suspect then called out his grandson (victim #3) while swinging and pointing the machete at his grandson. The reporter stated that was when he stood up and told the suspect to leave his house or he would call the police.

The reporter further explained that earlier in the evening, he heard someone shouting out the war cry (fa’aumu) followed by profanities in Samoan. He also heard someone challenging people to fight but he did not pay any attention to it.

However, the suspect's behavior bothered him so he called the police. The reporter also alleged that he had complaints from the villagers that made him pursue the case. According to the reporter, this is not the first time the suspect has caused a disturbance in the village and it is best to remove him.

After interviewing the reporter, a bunch of kids approached the officers and told them that the suspect was walking towards their location. Authorities left the scene to meet the suspect halfway. Upon approaching the suspect, he was seen waving at the police unit. The officers got out of the police unit and approached the suspect, where he was immediately apprehended.

He was transported to the TPS for further investigation. While transporting the suspect, police claim a strong odor of alcohol beverages was emitting from the suspect’s breath and clothes.

An officer was assigned to interview the victims regarding the incident.

According to victim #3, he was walking home from an evening workout and the suspect was shouting a war cry while holding a machete by the road. He saw the suspect walking towards him, and the suspect then threw a rock at him. That’s when he ran down the main road to his house.

The victim also claimed that the suspect went and hid in a dark bush and threw him with rocks. The victim continued that when he got home, he proceeded to prepare food for Sunday. He was shocked when the suspect showed up at his house with a machete and yelled profanities at him. The suspect attempted to hit him with a machete and threatened to chop his head off. The victim said he ran to the back of his house and he heard the suspect yelling profanities at him and telling him, “You will get it when I see you again!”

Victim #2 verbally stated that he was walking on the main road going to the store to buy food. The suspect yelled profanities in Samoan at him while holding a machete. As a result, he got frightened and started running away when the suspect threw him with a machete. The suspect chased him down to his house where he went and hid.

The victim further stated that the suspect was still holding the machete when he got to his house. He said that the suspect’s behavior was all this happening ‘for no reason’.

According to victim #1’s interview, he was walking on the main road and the suspect followed behind him. He was shocked when the suspect challenged him to a fight while he had a machete in his hand. The victim explained that he did not pay attention to the suspect and continued walking home.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspect was Mirandized to which he understood and agreed to make a statement.

According to the suspect’s verbal statement, he was drinking with his old man and someone threw rocks at the roof of their house. He then came out and hid in the bushes in front of the house to see who was throwing rocks. While he was hiding in the bushes, he saw kids walking on the road.

He then threw a machete at one of the kids and chased him to his house. He also went to the other kid’s house with a machete because he knew it was them that threw the rocks at their family home.

The suspect was booked and transported into the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined until the next available sitting in the District Court.