Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 5, 2026, a disturbing domestic violence incident left three women injured and placed an infant child in serious danger, according to the affidavit filed in the District Court on Jan. 8th.

The defendant was charged with the following:

Counts 1, 2, & 3: Assault in the Third Degree (DV) - a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1000 but not less than $150, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 4: Private Peace Disturbance (DV) - a class C misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed fifteen days, a fine of not more than $300 but not less than $150, or both such fine;

Count 5: Endangering the Welfare of a Child (DV) - a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1000 but not less than $150, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 6: Public Peace Disturbance (DV) - a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed six months, a fine of not more than $500 but not less than $150, or both such imprisonment and fine;

Count 7: Attempted Arson in the Third Degree (DV) - a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1000, or both such imprisonment and fine; and,

Count 8: False Imprisonment (DV) - a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a term of imprisonment not to exceed one year, a fine of not more than $1000 but not less than $150, or both such imprisonment and fine.

Defendant is held without bail.

(Samoa News has withheld the names of those involved to protect the identity of the minor involved in this case.)

According to the court affidavit, the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) received the first call after 6 p.m., when a concerned resident reported seeing a young man physically assaulting a woman who was holding a baby near a store & laundromat. The caller stated that the man was slapping the woman while she clutched an infant in her arms.

Minutes later, a second call came in from a family member of the suspect, reporting that her son was attacking his girlfriend while the woman was still holding their child.

Officers immediately responded to the area.

When police arrived, they interviewed witnesses who described a chaotic and frightening scene.

Witnesses said the women pleaded for help, but no one nearby stepped in to stop the violence.

Investigators learned that the incident began earlier in the afternoon when the woman and her infant were picked up by the suspect under the pretense of going to complete legal paperwork for the child. Instead, the suspect drove them to a residence in Pavaiai.

The victim told police that once there, she calmly asked to return home before evening so the baby could rest. This reportedly angered the suspect. He allegedly slapped her in the mouth while she was holding the child, then covered her mouth and pulled her hair. When she refused to give him the baby, he pushed her against a wall and struck her in the face again.

Fearing for her life and the safety of her infant, the woman ran from the house to a nearby laundromat in an attempt to find help and use a phone. She managed to contact the suspect’s mother, who rushed to the area to retrieve the child.

However, the confrontation escalated further when the suspect pursued them to a parked vehicle. Witnesses told officers that the suspect forced his way into the car and attempted to pull the woman back out. When the suspect’s mother intervened, she was shoved to the ground and suffered injuries to her leg and back.

The affidavit also stated that the women were screaming for help while bystanders stood nearby, but no one intervened.

Emergency medical personnel were later called to the TPS, where the victims were treated. The child’s mother was found to have swelling to her forehead along with scratches and bruises on her face and arms; while the suspect’s mother was taken to the hospital for further medical treatment after complaining of back and leg pain from being knocked to the ground. The infant was examined and determined not to have suffered visible injuries.

Police also discovered that after the women fled the area, the suspect allegedly entered a nearby residence and poured gasoline throughout the living room and bedrooms.

Officers who later searched the home reported a strong odor of fuel inside the house but did not find the suspect present.

A witness later told police that he saw the suspect spreading gasoline around the home but did not see him attempt to ignite it. Authorities described the act as extremely dangerous and said it could have resulted in catastrophic consequences had the fuel been set on fire.

The suspect managed to evade police through the night, and the following day, officers received information that he had been seen near a church in Pavaiai. Police responded to the area but were told by bystanders that he had left in a truck with another individual.

Later that evening, officers located the suspect near an abandoned structure close to a restaurant in the village. He was taken into custody and transported to the TPS.

During questioning, the suspect admitted to striking the woman during an argument, stating that he acted out of anger. He also admitted to pushing his mother during the confrontation.

He was transferred to the Tafuna Correctional Facility and was held pending his appearance in District Court.

Police further revealed that this was not the first time they had responded to disturbances involving the suspect. Previous incidents reportedly involved threats to burn down a residence and the use of gasoline as an intimidation tactic.

Family members have also reported a history of violent behavior toward his partner.

Relatives of the suspect have since contacted police expressing fear that he may cause more harm if released. They have requested that authorities take the matter seriously and ensure the safety of the victims and the community.

The defendant is identified as a 24-year-old U.S National.

[Editor’s Note: An affidavit is a written statement confirmed by oath or affirmation for use as evidence in court. It is not a court decision. Under local law, defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty by the court. ra]