Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On September 26, 2026, a man was taken into police custody following an alleged machete attack in Nu'uuli that left another man critically injured with multiple severe lacerations to his head and left arm. 

The suspect, later identified as Nicky Failauga was arrested and charged with:

Count 1: Assault in the First Degree, a class A felony punishable by imprisonment for a term of life, or a term not less than 10 years and not more than 30 years; and,
Count 2: Disturbing the Peace, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both imprisonment and fine.

The defendant was held without bail.

According to the court affidavit, the suspect allegedly attacked a man with a machete near the H&L car rental parking lot following a disagreement that reportedly occurred the previous day.

The incident was reported to the Tafuna Police Substation (TPS) at approximately 9:19 p.m. when a resident of Nu'uuli contacted authorities after receiving information from the Methodist Church Pastor, who was transporting the seriously injured victim to the LBJ Medical Center.

According to the affidavit, the pastor encountered the victim near the H&L car rental parking lot, where the victim reportedly claimed that Failauga had attacked him with a machete.

Police officers responded to the area at approximately 9:32 p.m. and met with the reporter and members of the village police (aumaga), who were searching for the suspect.

Officers were escorted to Failauga's residence, where they met his father. The father reportedly cooperated with police and granted permission for officers to search the residence. However, the suspect was not found inside.

Police subsequently proceeded to the reported crime scene near the H&L car rental parking lot, where they discovered a large pool of blood on the sidewalk alongside the main public road. 

According to the affidavit, heavy rainfall had contaminated the scene, making the collection of physical evidence difficult. Officers secured the area and photographed the available evidence. 

Initial efforts to locate surveillance footage or witnesses were unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, other responding officers proceeded to the LBJ Medical Center to check on the victim's condition.

At approximately 10:15 p.m., officers met with medical personnel and learned that the victim was in critical condition and awaiting a CT scan.

According to the attending physician, he identified four severe lacerations believed to have been caused by a sharp instrument.

The injuries included an 11-centimeter-long, deep wound to the back of the victim's head, with a high probability of a skull fracture; a second 6-centimeter laceration beneath the scalp; a 14-centimeter laceration behind the right ear; and a severe wound to the left forearm and elbow measuring approximately 10 centimeters by 7 centimeters by 5 centimeters.

The doctor reportedly informed investigators that further examination, including a CT scan, would be necessary to determine the full extent of the injuries.

SUSPECT SURRENDERS TO POLICE

At approximately 10:23 p.m., investigators informed fellow officers that Failauga had been brought to the crime scene by his brother-in-law and surrendered to police.

Failauga was detained and transported to the TPS for questioning.

At approximately 10:48 p.m., investigators advised the suspect of his constitutional rights using the Samoan version of the department's Miranda form. Police reported that he acknowledged understanding his rights, signed the form, and agreed to provide a statement.

During questioning, Failauga admitted to attacking the victim with a machete.

According to his statement, the disagreement began on September 25, 2026, at approximately 2 p.m., when Failauga was getting lunch at Milovale with his father and younger brother. The suspect claimed that the victim had called out to his younger brother in a disrespectful manner, which angered him.

The following evening, at approximately 9 p.m., Failauga reportedly spotted the victim walking near the main road while he was pulling grass.

Failauga admitted that he approached the victim to confront him about the previous day's incident and asked him to walk with him.

A verbal argument reportedly followed.

During the confrontation, he allegedly pulled out a machete, grabbed the victim and repeatedly struck him on the head.

The suspect reportedly told investigators that he could not remember how many times he struck the victim before fleeing when a couple intervened.

Police later brought the suspect back to the scene to assist in locating the machete.

Despite several attempts, the weapon was not recovered.

Investigators also interviewed Failauga's younger brother, regarding the previous day's encounter. The suspect’s brother explained that while he was ordering food at Milovale, the victim called out and asked who he was with. He told the victim that he was with his brother Nicky and their father waiting in the vehicle.

He then later observed Nicky and the victim speaking before the victim left the area. The suspect’s brother described his older brother as sometimes being overprotective and suggested that Nicky may have mistakenly interpreted the victim’s remarks as disrespectful.

VICTIM RECOUNTS ATTACK

On September 27, 2026, investigators returned to the LBJ Medical Center to follow up on the victim’s condition.

Police learned that the victim had been taken to the operating room for surgery. Officers later located the victim in the surgical ward and obtained his account of the incident. 

According to the victim, he had been at a pool hall near H&L Mart and was walking home when he heard someone calling out to him near the car rental parking lot. He stated that he was wearing earphones and could not clearly hear the person calling.

The victim told investigators that he noticed Failauga standing behind one of the rental vehicles and removed his right earphone after hearing the suspect ask him to come over.

As he approached, he noticed Failauga holding an unidentified object in his hands. It was then that suddenly, the suspect swung the object at him, striking him with considerable force.

The victim stated that he realized that the object was a machete after noticing that his left arm was bleeding heavily. He then fell to the ground and cried out for help.

Furthermore, the victim told police that the suspect then pulled him closer and struck him several more times on the back of his head with the machete.

The attack reportedly ended when a couple walking nearby intervened, prompting Failauga to flee on foot.

The victim also stated that the last thing he remembered was the pastor helping him into a vehicle and rushing him to the hospital.

EYEWITNESS DESCRIBES ATTACK

Police also obtained a statement from a witness, who reportedly witnessed the assault while walking home with his wife from the H&L store.

According to the witness, they encountered Failauga and the suspect behind the H&L car rental parking lot.

He told investigators that he saw Failauga repeatedly swinging a machete at the suspect while the victim was defenseless on the ground. He described the weapon as having a black handle and a silver blade.

The witness reportedly shouted at Failauga to stop, causing the suspect to flee the area. He also explained that because neither he nor his wife had a phone, he attempted to assist the injured victim by helping him sit upright.

Shortly afterward, he encountered the pastor and informed him of the attack. The pastor then transported the victim to the hospital for emergency medical treatment.

Following the investigation, Failauga was booked and confined at the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) for a 48-hour hold.

The machete allegedly used in the attack had not been recovered at the time of the police report.

The defendant is identified as a 20-year-old man, a U.S national.

The victim is a 35-year-old man, a U.S national.

The affidavit was filed in the District Court on Sept. 28, 2026.

As with all criminal cases, the allegations outlined in court filings remain accusations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

[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.]