Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On October 9, 2024, a concerned neighbor called the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) to report an alleged disturbance from his neighbors which also involved someone with a machete.

The two suspects, Pesaleli Fesolai and Inailau Kolisi were later apprehended and both were charged with:

Count 1: Private Peace DIsturbance, a class C misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to fifteen days, a fine of $300, or both.

In addition, Fesolai was charged with 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; while Kolisi was charged with Count 2: 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.

Fesolai’s bail was set at $2,000.

No bail was stated in the affidavit for Kolisi.

According to the affidavit, on October 9th, a concerned neighbor contacted the TPS reporting an alleged disturbance from their neighbors which involved someone with a machete.

Police officers responded to the call and upon arrival at the scene, they met up with a female individual who identified herself as the victim. Police officers transported the victim to the TPS to await EMS for medical treatment and for further investigation of the matter. The victim was accompanied by a family member, who was later identified as victim #2.

The police officers interviewed the suspect’s mother who stated that her son had been drinking in front of a store, and when he got home, she confronted him about drinking in front of the store.

As a result, her son got angry at her and started making unreasonable noises at their residence. She further stated that “after that, her son walked over to the victims’ house and called out a kid who lived there and challenged him to a fist fight.”

Later, the suspect’s mother pointed out her son, who was walking down the dry stream. At this time, police officers stopped the suspect and apprehended and transported him to the TPS for further investigation of the matter.

Upon arrival at the TPS, the officers placed the suspect in the interrogation room where he was Mirandized. The suspect agreed to provide a statement pertaining to the incident.

According to Pesaleli, he went looking for his daughter and heard their neighbors making loud noises. He proceeded to their house and confronted them. He further stated that when he approached the neighbor’s house, he saw the same individual which he had beefed with before, and he got so angry he started a scene at the neighbors’ house.

Police officers interviewed victim #1 and she stated that she was inside their house, when surprisingly, she heard someone outside of their house calling someone’s name — “Sio”.

Her sister-in-law went outside of their house and told the suspect and his girlfriend to get off their property, however, they refused to listen.

Victim #1 said she went outside of the house to assist her sister in-law because she’s diagnosed with hypertension. The victim said that she asked the suspect, why he was looking for Sio. The suspect replied that “he came here to cut Sio into pieces.” He was holding a machete. At that point, she told him to get off their property before she called the cops.

The suspect’s girlfriend (Inailau Kolisi, suspect #2) then yelled at her and told her that “if she calls the cops then she’s a coward.” Kolisi approached her and threw a punch but missed her.

She stated that at that time, suspect #1 came up to her and punched her twice in her right eye. Suspect #1 then yelled at her and told her that he would cut them into pieces.

Officers also interviewed victim #2 where she echoed what victim #1, her sister-in-law, had said to police. She also said that Pesaleli told them “to give up Sio before he comes and cuts Sio into pieces”. Pesaleli was holding a machete at the time. Kolisi then intervened and yelled at victim #1 and told her that she’s a coward if she calls the cops.

At this time, victim #1 told Kolisi that she was being disrespectful, whereas Pesaleli approached victim #1 and punched her twice in her right eye.

 Kolisi was also Mirandized and she agreed to provide a statement.

Kolisi stated that Pesaleli was putting their daughter to sleep when suddenly they heard loud noises from their neighbors. Pesaleli got angry and walked over to the neighbor’s house with a machete and confronted them about the loud noises.

Kolisi stated that she tried to stop him from going to the neighbor’s house but when they got there, a woman came out of the house and told them to get off their land. Later on, another woman came out of the house and tried to beat up Pesaleli. She then got mad and she told Pesaleli to step aside.

At the same time, the lady who tried to beat up Pesaleli told her to come and fight, and she approached her and they started throwing punches at each other. The victim called out her sister or whoever was inside their house to grab a knife to cut them.

Pesaleli was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

Kolisi was not booked at the TCF due to her 5-month-old baby.

Fesolai is identified as a 21-year-old U.S National and Kolisi as an 18-year-old U.S National.