Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On February 28, 2024, police were contacted regarding an alleged assault that occurred during a party in the village of Vailoa.

Mr. Ata Lagisa was apprehended and later charged with the following:

Count 1: Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than six months, a fine of not more than $500, or both; and,

Count 2: Assault in the Second Degree — a class D felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than five years, a fine of not more than five years, or both.

The defendant’s bail was set at $20,000.

According to the affidavit, the investigation found that on February 28, at about 11:30 p.m, a party was hosted at Mr. Junior Fa’alologa’s (victim) house in the village of Vailoa. Fa’alologa joined the party when he arrived home from youth practice. Fun and laughter surrounded the party until Ata Lagisa (defendant) stood up and walked towards the main road and from the top of his lungs yelled out the war cry (fa’aumu).

Fa’alologa stated that this prompted him to approach Lagisa and tell him that he should grab his things and go home.

He explained that the defendant was being “too rowdy and the fact that the Reverend (faifeau) had approached the Fa’alologa about his mishap”.

The victim said that the defendant then got agitated and started shouting profanities in Samoan and continued with the war cry.

Fa’alologa said he slapped the defendant as he felt disrespected and chased him home.

It was about 20 minutes later, according to Fa’alologa, when Lagisa returned to his home with his brothers.

The victim explained that the defendant was armed with a weapon he described as a reinforcement rod (rebar), and he started hitting all the empty cups and beer bottles that were on the table outside of his house that was used during the party.

Fa’alologa said he heard the sound of the broken glasses coming from outside of his house and approached Lagisa. He tried to stop him and exchange words as they scuffled.

Lagisa then grabbed the rebar and struck the victim on the right side of his forehead, and fled the scene. The victim sustained an open cut approximately one inch in length.

When officers arrived at the scene they observed broken bottles and blood drops outside of the garage area leading up to the front door of the home.

They met with Fa’alologa and saw that his face was covered in blood from the wound he sustained and the blood did not seem to stop gushing.

Attempts to locate Lagisa were unsuccessful.

The victim was then placed into the police unit and transported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) where EMS was waiting, and was treated for his injuries.

At about 5:45 a.m, police officers went to the defendant’s home and were told by Lagisa's father-in- law that the defendant was sleeping.

Officers were granted entry from the homeowner, in which they went in and apprehended the defendant and transported him to TPS for questioning.

Upon arrival at TPS, the defendant was Mirandized and he refused to make a statement.

Lagisa was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility where he was held for 48 hours awaiting criminal complaint.

The defendant is identified as a 22-year-old, U.S National.