Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On August 24, 2025, the Leone Police Substation (LPS) received a call regarding a minor who was allegedly assaulted by an adult.

The adult/ suspect was later identified as the victim’s neighbor and was charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 2: Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, fine of $1,000, or both.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to court records, on Aug. 24th, at approximately 6:04 p.m., a woman (the reporter) contacted the LPS alleging that her nephew (a 16-year-old minor/ victim) was assaulted by an adult in Taputimu.

Police officers responded to the call and, upon arrival at the scene, met with the victim, who briefed them on what had happened.

According to the minor, he confronted his little brother about taking his sunglasses. His brother told him that he had had his sunglasses, but an unknown man, who was their neighbor (suspect), took them away from him.

The victim later met the suspect, who was sitting outside his residence, and asked him to return the sunglasses he had taken from his brother. However, the suspect became angry and grabbed him by the shirt, shouting, “So what if I took your sunglasses?”

The suspect then assaulted him by slapping him multiple times in the face and then struck him with a closed fist on the left side of his face. After being assaulted, the victim stated that he ran home and told his aunt about what happened, and she contacted the authorities.

After several attempts to locate the suspect, the efforts were unsuccessful.

The suspect is identified as a 27-year-old U.S national.