Land dispute leads to arrest of 68-year-old woman

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 11, 2025, a woman called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and reported that her 68-year-old neighbor allegedly assaulted her nephew and another male who were cleaning her road.

Luisa Ah Young was arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300.00, or both imprisonment and fine; and

Count 2 & 3: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000.00, or both.

There was no set bail for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on June 11th, at around 5:58 p.m., a woman (later identified as the reporter) contacted the TPS regarding her 23-year-old nephew and his friend who were allegedly struck with a stick and machete.

The reporter identified a 68-year-old female, Luisa Ah Young, who is her neighbor, as the suspect.

Police officers proceeded to the scene, and met with the victims who briefed them regarding the matter. Victim #1 was observed with a minor red rash on his left arm but refused medical treatment. Victim #2 had no visible injuries.

The officers walked over to the suspect’s residence and met with her. She was informed by the officers why they were there whereas she told authorities her side of the story.

Young was advised to head to the police station for further investigation where she was escorted in her private vehicle to the station.

Victim #1 was interviewed where he stated that he was cleaning his aunt’s (reporter) yard and road. He explained that the suspect, who lives about 50 yards further down from the reporter’s house approached him and victim #2 while they were cutting the grass.

She stopped them from cutting the grass whereas he told the lady “to mind her own business because it’s not her land”. However, victim #1 stated that he was shocked when the suspect hit his left arm with a stick and then hit the same spot with the flat side of a machete she was holding. Young also turned to victim #2 and hit him with the flat side of the machete. She then walked away while continuing to yell at them.

Victim #2 was also interviewed and corroborated victim #1’s statement.

Young gave her statement and she claimed that she owned the land where the reporter’s dirt road and basketball court are. She explained that the two males were cutting grass at the dirt road next to the reporter’s house, and she walked over to the two young men and told them to stop cutting the grass but victim #1 told her it’s not her land. The suspect admitted that she was holding a machete and a stick but claimed that when they didn’t listen so she hit victim #1 with a  stick, not the machete.

The reporter was also interviewed and she also claimed she owns the land. She explained that the suspect had just built her house next to their dirt road last year and she thinks she owns the land and the property. The reporter further stated that the suspect and her family cut her trees down with a chainsaw a few months ago where she filed several police complaints but did not press charges.

Moreover, two weeks ago on May 15th, her cousin was cutting grass next to her house and the suspect walked to her backyard and yelled at her cousin to stop cutting the grass. The suspect then walked to her back door and yelled at her and her husband whereas her husband chased the suspect back to her house.

The reporter also claimed that during the recent incident, the suspect threw rocks at her husband when he was in the backyard. She further stated that they do not feel safe at home (her and her family) because the suspect “has no fear of coming into their property and causing trouble.”

The suspect was Mirandized whereas she understood and refused to make a statement.

Luisa Ah Young was later booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 68-year-old U.S National.