Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 1, 2025, a concerned citizen reported several men fighting. An investigation later revealed that of the 4 suspects, there were three minors involved, who were found to have fled the scene.

The one suspect found at the scene  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 $500.00, or both; and,

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

There was no set bail for the defendant.

According to the court affidavit, on Jan.1st, at about 11:10 p.m., a female reported several males fighting in the village of Faleniu. Police officers proceeded to the scene, and upon arrival at the scene, they were waved down by the reporter who guided them to the location where the males were fighting.

When the officers arrived, two males could be seen being separated and seemed to be exchanging words. The officers detained both individuals, who were later identified as the victim and one of the suspects.

The officers interviewed the victim regarding the incident. According to the victim,  while “on his way home several male individuals called out to his vehicle when he passed by and challenged if anyone wanted to fight.”

He opened his vehicle door and started yelling profanities in Samoan and called them out to a fight. However, as he got in front of his house, he was ambushed by several males. The victim claimed that they threw him on the ground where he was punched and kicked like a ‘soccer ball’.

The victim sustained bruises all over his forehead and his nose, a scratch in the middle of his forehead and blood was dripping from his left ear.

The officers also made contact with another victim who is a female. However, she was unable to provide a statement regarding what happened, as she seemed to be in a state of panic. Medical attention was requested immediately and when the EMS arrived at the scene, the officers proceeded to locate the other males involved in the assault.

The suspect that was apprehended was taken to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) and upon arrival at the TPS, Fa’atoaga Afualo was Mirandized to which he and agreed to provide a statement and answer questions.

According to the suspect, he was hanging out and drinking at his friend’s house in Faleniu when white car passed by and the passenger opened the door and started yelling profanities. The suspect claimed that the passenger called him and friends out to a fist fight causing him and the minors to chase after the vehicle.

Moreover, the suspect explained that when they finally arrived at where the white car stopped, he noticed one male individual walking towards them. He stated that as soon as he got closer, he punched the individual in the face and slammed him into the ground and continued punching the victim at least six times in the face.

The suspect admitted that as he was punching the victim, the three minors also landed some punches on the victim as well.

The suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility awaiting the next available sitting of the District Court.

It was later revealed that the other suspects were all minors  — and efforts to locate them were unsuccessful.