Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — A woman has been charged for allegedly stabbing two individuals — a woman and a 12-year old child over reports of “rumors”.

Makerita Tavae is facing two charges of second-degree assault and two counts of third-degree assault.

She was taken into custody by way of an arrest warrant with bail set at $10,000 by the District Court.

This is according to the criminal complaint.

The defendant appeared in the District Court last week. The two victims in this case are a woman and her 12-year old daughter.

It’s alleged the incident occurred last month when the defendant contacted the woman over reports that they were “spreading negative rumors” about Tavae’s mother.

According to the suspect she contacted the woman on the phone and the woman swore at her and said they were on their way to the defendant’s house.

It’s alleged as soon as the defendant heard knocking on the door “she saw a knife on top of the closet and grabbed it.

 “The suspect opened the door and began stabbing the first victim (woman) on her forearm” and as the first victim went backwards, she started stabbing the second victim (12 year old)”. 

The suspect further stated that she was unaware the 12-year old girl was at her house.

The girl told police she was surprised that when they got to the house, the defendant greeted them at the door with a knife, pulled her hair and stabbed her on the back of her head.

According to the government’s case the 12-year old girl suffered three open-wounds to the back of her head, including an inch wide wound behind her ear and the wound that required three stitches. Another wound required two stitches.

The woman suffered a laceration that required eight stitches.