Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On December 13, 2024, a victim was escorted to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) by his sister to report an alleged assault.

Kosetatino Tavili, the suspect was arrested and charged with: Count 1: Assault in the Second Degree, a class D felony punishable by a term of imprisonment for up to five years, a fine of $5,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and, Count 2: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine of $500, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $50,000.

According to the court affidavit, on Dec. 13th , a female individual walked into the TPS with her injured brother (victim) to file a report regarding an assault on her brother.

The victim was interviewed and he verbally stated that he and a few friends were walking home after a volleyball game at Lions Park. He stated that his friends started shouting the Samoan cry (fa’aūum) on the road. While approaching the store (airport way), there were two male individuals that were standing under a mango tree in front of the store.

The two males were later identified as Kosetatino and Siaosi.

The victim stated that Siaosi shouted at him to stop shouting and yelling. The victim explained he tried to apologize to Siaosi for his friends’ behavior but Siaosi was still yelling at his friends. He further stated that “the crowd started running towards the intersection” and he was stabbed in his back by Kosetatino. The victim recalled Kosetatino holding knives in both of his hands and described the knives as cutting knives.

The victim stated he ran for his life and Kosetatino used the other knife to throw at him where it hit his right forearm.

He said they ran all the way from Nu’uuli to Fagaima where they reside and he didn’t realize he was injured until they got home. He told his sister and that’s when they decided to walk into the TPS to report the incident.

He was seen by the EMS and was transported to the hospital for treatment because the wound on his back was deep.

The TPS also received a call regarding numerous male individuals fighting in front of the Coco Mart Store half an hour prior to when the victim walked in the station.

Upon arrival at the scene, patrol officers didn’t observe anyone at the scene.

The officers met up with a female who stated she didn’t know what happened until she heard noises from the road. When she went outside of the laundromat, she saw Kosetatino throwing what appeared to be a knife at one of the boys and then chase after them.

The officers proceed to locate Kosetatino at his residence where he was apprehended and transported to the TPS for further investigation.

The officers Mirandized the suspect to which he said he understood and agreed to make a statement.

According to the suspect’s verbal statement, he didn't know anything and that he was home alone with his daughter the whole time.

A picture of the suspect was taken by the officers and sent to the victim’s sister to confirm Kosetatino was at the scene. The victim confirmed it was suspect and he explained that he knew him because they played volleyball together and it was Kosetatino that was holding the knives and stabbed him.

The suspect refused to identify the second male individual he was with because he claimed that he was at home the whole time with his daughter.

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

The victim was released from the hospital after being treated. He sustained a deep cut on the left side of his back and required stitches.

The defendant is identified as a 27-year-old citizen of Samoa.