Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On November 7, 2024, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a female individual requesting assistance regarding a male individual who allegedly pulled a gun on her and her family.

The suspect was later arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree ( As a C Misd.), a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both; and,

Count 2: Possession of Unlicensed Arms, 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 $3,000.

According to the affidavit, on Nov. 7th, at around 5:49 p.m., the TPS Dispatcher received a call from a female individual (later identified as Victim #1) reporting a male individual by the name of Setefano Foma’i who approached her and her husband with a gun.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they observed an old man, (later identified as Foma’i and also the suspect) talking with two other individuals (later identified as Victim #1 and Victim #2).

Police officers reported that they overheard the conversation and it seemed like the suspect was trying to resolve and reconcile the issue between him and the couple. The officers immediately stepped in and asked them to identify themselves in an attempt to question them separately.

The police first identified the suspect where he was informed of the complaint reported earlier involving a weapon. The suspect immediately acknowledged his involvement and he voluntarily stated that he had the weapon (gun) at his house.

The officers asked the suspect for consent to retrieve the gun to which he agreed. One of the officers accompanied the suspect to his residence where the gun was retrieved from inside the suspect’s bedroom. The weapon was identified as a .22 caliber rifle.

The suspect was Mirandized at the scene before he was arrested and transported to the TPS.

The victims were advised to proceed to the TPS for a formal interview.

Victim #1 was interviewed and she stated that she and her husband were driving on the driveway heading home in the evening, when they saw a hose across the driveway with the suspect washing his car on the other side. She said that they stopped their vehicle and waited for the suspect to move the hose on the driveway.

The suspect pulled the hose but it got stuck under their car. This is when the suspect cast a disdainful glance in their direction and furiously said, “Watch the water hose!” He also swore at them in Samoan.

Victim #1 explained that she immediately asked the suspect why he was acting that way towards them, but the suspect didn’t say anything.

They then continued to drive towards the back, but returned a few minutes later to find the suspect walking towards them and approaching their vehicle with a gun pointed in their direction.

Victim #1 said that the suspect called out in a hostile tone for them to come out of the car or he will shoot them and their kids. She said that they were so scared for their safety and their lives that they immediately called the police for help.

During the suspect’s interview, he was reminded of his rights again where he acknowledged and agreed to make a statement regarding the incident.

The suspect verbally stated that he was washing his vehicle when the victims drove by and drove on his water house. The suspect said that he called them out and asked them, “If they can’t see the hose?” He admitted that he also swore at them. The suspect then stated that the couple continued to drive away and did not hesitate to stop to give him an explanation.

He stated he was agitated and decided to get his gun from his house.

Moreover, as soon as he walked out of the house, he saw the victims’ car heading back in his direction. He admitted that he immediately approached the victims’ vehicle and pointed his gun at the vehicle. He stated that he screamed at them saying “Come out of the vehicle or I will shoot you, your wife, your kids, and your dog!”

The suspect also confessed that he did what he did out of anger.

It was also confirmed that the suspect was the owner of the gun but it was not legally registered. The .22 rifle recovered was not loaded and there was no ammunition discovered at the scene.

The suspect was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility for 48 hours awaiting an arrest warrant that was filed on Nov. 10th, with court issuing and signing it on Nov. 11, 2024, for Setefano Fomai.