Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 6, 2026, Fagatogo Police Central ]Station (FPS) received a call from the village of Aua reporting multiple assaults involving several individuals. 

Two women, Palepa Visesio and Vise Leifi, were later arrested and charged as follows:

Visesio was charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both imprisonment and fine;
Count 2: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by imprisonment for up to five years, a fine not more than $5,000, or both; and,
Count 3: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not more than $1,000, or both.

Visesio’s bail was set at $5,000.

Leifi was charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace Disturbance (DV), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300, or both; and,
Count 2: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine not more than $1,000, or both.

Leifi’s bail was set at $3,000.

According to the court records, on Sept. 6, 2026, police officers responded to the call from Aua with two patrol units. At approximately 5:58 p.m., officers arrived and made contact with the male reporter, who immediately pointed officers in the direction of the individuals allegedly involved in the incident.

The reporter told police that two women had assaulted an individual and also pointed officers toward the location of the alleged victim. After gathering the initial information, responding officers divided into two groups. Two officers proceeded toward the reported location of the suspects, while the other officers went to locate and identify the victim.

The officers eventually proceeded to a residence where several individuals, identified as family members of the two female suspects, were gathered.

As officers approached the group, one individual asked whether the situation could be resolved between the two families. Police advised that the matter needed to be investigated.

During the interaction with the family members, two women came forward and reportedly admitted their involvement in the incident. The two women were taken into custody and escorted to the patrol vehicles.

While officers were in the process of handling the two women, another officer arrived and advised that two additional individuals had reportedly been involved in the incident.

The two additional individuals subsequently came forward and were also taken into custody.

Police notified the victims that they also needed to report to the FPS for further investigation into the incident.

At approximately 6:25 p.m., the two patrol units arrived at FPS with four suspects — three females and one male.

The suspects were advised of their constitutional rights before police interviewed the victims and witnesses to establish what had occurred.

According to one of the victims, a male relative, observed the suspects arguing with his brother. The victim told police that he attempted to intervene in an effort to prevent the situation from escalating. However, he said that once he became involved, the suspects directed their anger toward him.

The victim alleged that one of the female suspects approached him while holding a large rock. He said he attempted to block the rock, but it struck him in the neck.The victim further alleged that another female suspect was jabbing him with a long stick. He also told police that he heard the female suspect instruct another individual to bring a machete.

A second victim was involved in the incident — an 8-year-old boy who was reportedly injured during the altercation.

According to information gathered by police, the child was injured when the male victim attempted to block the rock allegedly being held by one of the female suspects.

Police reported that the rock fell from the woman's hand and struck the child on the head. The child then fell towards a cement wall.

One of the witnesses, the child's mother, provided police with both verbal and written statements.

According to her account, one of the female suspects approached her husband and began yelling at him over the alleged damage to a PVC water pipeline supplying the suspect's residence.

The confrontation reportedly developed into a verbal dispute between the two families.

The witness told police that the argument escalated when one of the female suspects picked up a rock approximately the size of her palm and attempted to strike her male cousin. The cousin attempted to block the rock, causing it to fall, where it struck her 8-year-old child, who had been standing behind him. 

Consequently, the child fell and struck his face against a cement wall. The witness reported that her child sustained a bruise underneath his right eye and experienced bleeding from his nose.

The witness also told police that she observed another female suspect using a stick to jab her cousin in the chest area. Moreover, she claimed that the same suspect called out to one of her sons and instructed him to bring a machete. The witness also mentioned that she heard the suspect saying that they should use the machete to "slay their necks”. 

The witness continued that she observed a male member of the other family holding a machete. However, she did not state that the man approached anyone or use the machete to assault anyone.

The witness also alleged that a third female suspect joined the altercation and began hitting the male victim (cousin) in the face with her hands.

According to both victims and witnesses, the argument began over a water pipeline. The husband of the female witness had allegedly cut PVC pipelines supplying water to the residence of one of the suspects, resulting in the water service being interrupted.

Witnesses said the female suspect confronted the victim's family about the damaged pipeline and demanded that it be repaired.

After interviewing the victims and witnesses, police advised them to seek medical attention to evaluate and treat any injuries they may have sustained.

Suspect Gives Account Of Water Pipe Dispute

One of the female suspects was subsequently brought in for questioning. Police advised her of her constitutional rights, and she reportedly stated that she understood her rights and was willing to provide a statement.

During her interview, she admitted that she had initiated the argument with the victim's family. However, she told police that the reason for the confrontation was that her household had been without water for approximately three days.

According to the suspect, she began looking into the water problem by sending male members of her family to check the village reservoir.

The family members reportedly returned and told her that the water pipes had been cut.

The suspect then confronted the victim's family and questioned who had cut the water pipes and why they had been cut. According to her statement, the male victim, the husband of one of the witnesses, admitted to cutting the pipes and allegedly claimed ownership of the reservoir.

The suspect also admitted that she was holding a stick during the altercation.

However, she disputed the allegation that she was using the stick to attack the victim, stating that she was holding it to protect her sister after her sister was allegedly injured during the confrontation.

Second Suspect Admits Using Rock

The second female suspect was questioned and provided a ]statement.

According to her account, she became involved after hearing the male victim and another male allegedly direct profanity at her sister. She told police that she believed her sister was about to be harmed by the male victim.

The second suspect admitted that she used a rock in an attempt to strike the male victim.

She also provided an account concerning an injury to her finger, stating that the male victim punched back, causing their hands to collide.

Third Female Suspect Denies Assault

The third female suspect was also interviewed and according to her statement, she was not present when the altercation initially began.

She said she became involved after the male victim allegedly directed a profanity at her. The woman denied physically assaulting the male victim.

Male Suspect Denies Involvement

The male suspect was questioned separately concerning his alleged involvement. He told police that he had just returned from the mountain after completing chores and was not present when the altercation began.

He further stated that he remained at a distance from the incident and did not participate in the confrontation.

Additional Witnesses Corroborate Portions Of Account

After the first group of interviews had been completed, the mother of the injured child and the male victim returned to the police station with two additional individuals who said they had witnessed the incident.

The two additional witnesses were interviewed separately by police.

Both provided statements that were similar to each other and also consistent with portions of an earlier witness statement.

The additional witnesses reportedly stated that they saw the second female suspect use a rock against the male victim, which subsequently resulted in the 8-year-old child being injured.

They also reportedly told police that they saw the first female suspect using a tall stick to jab the male victim in the chest area.

The witnesses further stated that they saw the third female suspect hitting the male victim.
They also reported seeing the male suspect holding a machete during the incident.
However, one of the additional witnesses also acknowledged his own involvement in the events leading up to the confrontation.

The man reportedly admitted to police that he had cut and damaged the water pipeline belonging to the other family.

He explained that he did so because he believed the family was wasting water and was not maintaining cleanliness around the pipeline.

The admission provided police with additional information concerning the underlying dispute that preceded the physical altercation.

Two women were booked and subsequently transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to remain in confinement pending the next sitting of the District Court.

The other two individuals who were questioned were not booked in connection with the alleged assault based on the information contained in the affidavit.

Police also documented the injury sustained by the 8-year-old child during the confrontation and advised the victims to obtain medical treatment.

The affidavits were filed in the District Court on Sept. 08, 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision.]