Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On January 8, 2024, at about 2:10pm as police officers conducted their routine patrol after schools were released, “bystanders waved down the officers and yelled out that the kids were about to fight.”

Police officers then noticed a male individual, who is well-known to the Police Department, identified as 18-year-old Justin Gago, wearing a red t-shirt and blue shorts and realized it was the someone who has allegedly been involved in several other cases, including fights with high school students.

According to the affidavit, police officers took notice of Gago “running towards a group of high school students and started throwing hands towards multiple male students using a closed fist which escalated into a fist fight.”

A male individual who was at the scene assisted officers by rushing towards the students who were fighting and attempting to break up the fight.

Officers observed Gago running towards a car that was parked on the beachside parking lot at the Su’igaula area. As officers approached the vehicle, the defendant declared that it was his sister’s car.

Gago was apprehended and transported to the Fagatogo Police Station (FPS) for booking.

He was Mirandized and refused to make a statement.

Gago was booked and transported to the Tafuna Correctional Facility (TCF) to await the next available sitting of the District Court.

He has been charged with one count of Public Peace Disturbance — a class B misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for six months, a fine of $500, or both.

Bail for the defendant was set at $500.

The defendant is identified as a U.S. National.