Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On April 13, 2024, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received a call from a woman to report three individuals who allegedly assaulted a couple with a shovel and a hammer.

Isitolo Latu, Junior Natu and Alton Latusaio were arrested and later charged with the following:

Count 1: Assault in the Second Degree — a class D felony punishable by imprisonment of not more than five (5) years, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both; and,

Count 2: Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of not more than six (6) months, a fine of not more than $5,000, or both.

Isitolo Latu and Junior Natu’s bails were set at $5,000, while Alton Latusaio’s bail was set at $10,000.

According to the affidavit, on April 13, a woman called the TPS to report three male individuals (defendants) causing a disturbance and who were beating up her sister’s husband in front of their home in Nu’uuli.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival met the reporter/ caller about the incident. The reporter briefed the officers about what had allegedly happened and she pointed out where the three male individuals were sitting outside of their house. Police officers then approached the defendants and apprehended them.

The reporter further stated that the incident happened earlier in the day at around 1:00 p.m when she told Latusaio (later identified as defendant #3) to settle things down with one of the victims. However, when Natu (defendant #2) and Latu (defendant #1) got off work she heard a commotion outside her house. The reporter stated the only thing she saw was blood covering one of the victim’s faces.

Police officers then approached victim #1 inside her home where she voluntarily provided a written statement about what happened.

According to victim #1, her husband (victim #2) was cleaning the dirt that was stuck to their house when the incident happened. She explained that when they got off from work everything inside their house was destroyed. She (victim #1) immediately called one of the defendant’s wives and asked if there was something that she was not happy about. During their conversation they got into an argument. The victim’s husband then came out in front of their house and she saw him getting beat up by two of the defendants.

The victim stated that Latu held a shovel and was beating her husband’s arms and legs, Latusaio held a hammer and was hitting her husband’s head, while Natu was punching her husband’s face. The victim stated she tried to help her husband but Natu turned around and threw a hammer at her, which hit her back.

Officers approached the husband (victim #2) who verbally stated that the defendants ganged up and beat him. He stated it was too dark for him to identify who had the hammer and shovel that were used against him.

The defendants were transported to the TPS, where they were booked and later taken to the Tafuna Correctional Facility to be confined until the next available sitting of the District Court.

Isitolo Latu is a 20 year-old US national, and 38 year-old Junior Natu and 30 year-old Alton Latusaio are Samoa citizens.