Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On May 18, 2024, a couple walked into the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report an assault by three men of the male individual of the couple  at the Flame’s NightClub.

The main suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, 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, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $2,000.

According to the affidavit, on at about 11:00 pm, suspect Viliamu Ulusele was causing a peace disturbance at the Flame’s Nightclub by engaging in a fight, alarming the public.

An investigation into the matter revealed that the suspect allegedly assaulted another male individual by punching him in the face several times, who then left the scene.

At about 11:40 am, the victim and his girlfriend walked into the TPS to file a complaint against the suspect for assault. The victim was observed with injuries on his face and body. The Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was immediately contacted by the TPS dispatcher to treat the victim’s injuries.

Officers interviewed the reporter (girlfriend of the victim) where she verbally stated that her boyfriend went out of the bar to smoke a cigarette and was assaulted by three male individuals.

The girlfriend stated she doesn't know how the incident started but when she turned around, the victim was on the ground. She explained that the three guys who assaulted the victim ran away after the assault.

Officers interviewed the victim and he explained that he was in shock from what had happened.

He stated he came out to smoke a cigarette and three male individuals surrounded him. One of them came and stood in front of him then grabbed him by the neck of his shirt. He said the next he remembered was someone punched him in the back of his head and he knocked out.

The victim explained that he does not remember much but out of the three guys, he allegedly knows that one of them was Viliamu Ulusele from Lauli’i.

After the victim’s interview, he was treated by the EMS and was advised that all his vitals were stable and that his injuries didn’t need to be stitched.

The officers were also able to speak with a second witness and according to her, right when she walked out of the bar she saw the victim being assaulted by three men.

She ran and tried to help out with breaking up the fight. The second witness explained that the victim had gone outside to smoke and was assaulted for no reason.

Moreover, the witness stated she does not know the other two guys, but the one punching the victim from the front was Ulusele. She said Ulusele’s sister was the victim’s ex-girlfriend.

Later that night, the victim and the witnesses were released to go home.

Police officers tried to locate Ulusele at the bar but were unsuccessful.

On May 19, 2024 at about 10:34 a.m, the defendant was found and taken to the TPS for investigation of the incident.

He was Mirandized and agreed to answer questions and make a statement.

According to the Ulusele’s verbal and written statement, he was smoking a cigarette outside of the bar and the victim approached him asking how long he had arrived in American Samoa? They had a conversation then the victim raised his voice and acted like he wanted to fight. The defendant claimed that “he knew the victim wanted to fight, [so]  then he punched him in the face and knocked him out.”

Furthermore, he punched the victim a couple more times then he walked away. As he turned back, a guy by the name “Duki” and his cousins were still punching and kicking the victim.

The defendant explained that’s when he went back and told the boys to stop and leave.

Ulusele also stated that the incident started from what happened between the victim and his sister. The defendant claimed that the victim assaulted his little sister and then left for the states.

He admitted to assaulting the victim in front of the Flames NightClub.

Ulusele was transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

The defendant is identified as a 27 year-old U.S National.