Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On March 29, 2024, a female individual contacted the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) requesting assistance with two male individuals who entered their home unlawfully and assaulted her 16 year-old brother with a machete.

Ekueta Fa’afao and Solomona Ta’avao were both charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Burglary in the Second Degree, a class C felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than seven (7) years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

Ta’avao was charged with an additional count — Count 3: Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, a fine of not more than $1,000, or both.

Fa’afao’s bail was set at $5,000.

Ta’avao’s bail was set at $10,000.

According to the affidavit, on March 29, at about 4:45 p.m, TPS received a call from the village of Fogagogo. A female individual reported that they needed police assistance with two male individuals who unlawfully entered their house and assaulted her 16-year-old brother. The caller reported that the suspects hit her brother with the flat side of the machete.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival met with a male individual later identified as the father of the minor involved in this case.

The father stated that he was sleeping inside his room when his nephew ran up to him and told him that Ekueta Fa’afao was chasing him with a rock inside their house while Solomona Ta’avao was chasing his 16-year-old son with a machete. The father stated that he tried to calm the situation down but the two suspects refused to obey his orders to stop.

He then grabbed his baseball bat trying to defend his sons from the two male individuals.

The father stated that he was concerned that his family would not be safe with these two individuals. He also said he cannot hold back his brother and sons if something bigger happens, which is why he told his daughter to call the police for assistance.

After briefing the officers, the father directed the police to where the two male suspects were at.

Police officers located the suspects at their residence and found them sitting in front of their house. The officers apprehended the suspects and placed them inside the police unit to be transported to the TPS for further investigation, after advising them to come into the TPS for an interview regarding the incident.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the suspects were placed in separate areas for interrogation.

Before the interrogation, officers met up with the victims where they were interviewed.

According to victim #1, he was mowing the lawn when suddenly Ekueta (suspect #1) blindsided him by punching him in the back of his head and asking “ What is the purpose of these kinda things? Who told you to mow the lawn?” He then ran to his father inside the house to tell him what had happened.

Police interviewed victim #2 in the presence of his father because he is a minor. Victim #2 explained that he was inside their living room when suddenly Solomona Ta’avao unlawfully entered their house. He (victim #2) stated that Ta’avao assaulted him with the flat side of the machete which landed on the side of his leg and started chasing him inside the house. No injuries were sustained by the minor.

Fa’afao was Mirandized where he agreed to make a statement. He stated that he came from work and saw victim #1 mowing the lawn which got him mad because he was one of his dad’s tautua/ servants because his father was their high chief. As a result, he approached the victim and asked him “What is the purpose of these kinda things? Who told you to mow the lawn? He then yanked the weedeater away from the victim.

Ta’avao was also Mirandized where he did not understand the Samoan and the English version of the Miranda statement. However, Ta’avao spontaneously uttered that he saw his brother chasing victim #1, so he got mad and went with the machete to the victim’s house and assaulted the victim’s little brother with the flat side of the machete.

Both suspects were booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await their initial court appearance at the District Court.

Both suspects are identified as citizens of Samoa.