Young man still at large after allegedly injuring child while fleeing from his father

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — On June 27, 2026, a man accused of throwing a metal rod through a neighboring family's window, injuring a four-year-old child, remains at large, wanted by police after fleeing the area of the incident before officers arrived. The suspect was later charged with: Count 1: Assault in the Third Degree ( Class A Misd.), a class A misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to one year, a fine of up to $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine; and, Count 2: Property Damage in the Third Degree, a class B misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for up to six months, a fine not to exceed $500, or both. The defendant’s bail was set at $1,000. (Samoa News has withheld the names of the individuals to protect the identity of the minor victim.) According to the court affidavit, the incident at a residence, where the suspect allegedly became involved in a heated argument with his father before fleeing the property. During the incident, authorities allege that the suspect threw a thick metal rod through the window of a neighboring home, striking a young child in the chest. Court documents state that the suspect was yelling at his father at their family residence, and the verbal confrontation reportedly intensified before the suspect ran from the property towards a neighboring home. Investigators allege that as he fled, the suspect picked up and threw a thick, rusty metal rod through the window of the neighboring residence. The rod shattered the home's window louvres, tore through the window screen, and struck a child, who was inside the house at the time. Police later recovered the metal rod, describing it as approximately an arm's length long and heavily rusted. Officers responded to the emergency call shortly after the incident. Upon arrival, they were met by the child's mother, who directed officers to the residence and explained what had occurred. While one officer interviewed the victim and members of her family, other officers spoke with the suspect's parents regarding the events leading up to the incident. Investigators photographed the child's injuries, documented the extensive damage to the broken window, and collected the metal rod as evidence. According to police, the two homes were located only about 15 yards apart. In the victim’s mother’s interview with investigators, the child's mother said she and her daughter were inside their home when they heard loud yelling coming from outside. Concerned by the disturbance, she went to investigate and saw someone running past the house. Moments later, she said, a metal rod suddenly flew through the window and struck her daughter, who had been standing in front of it. The frightened mother immediately picked up her injured child, carried her outside, examined her injuries, and contacted police for assistance. She also told investigators that she saw the suspect throw the metal rod. The young victim told investigators she had been standing beside her mother when she suddenly saw something come through the window before it hit her in the chest. She recalled that her mother immediately carried her outside while she cried from the impact. When asked whether she suffered any other injuries besides the visible scratches on her chest, the child replied that she had not. EMS arrived at approximately 1:10 p.m. and provided medical treatment to the child. According to the responding EMS, the injuries were not considered life-threatening, and the medical team departed after treating the victim at the scene. The suspect's parents told investigators that the father had been disciplining his son because of his behavior. According to their statements, the argument escalated before the suspect ran towards the neighboring property. The father told police that he briefly retrieved a belt before calling for his son to return. However, the suspect continued running and disappeared behind the neighbor’s house. When asked whether the suspect had been carrying a metal rod, the father said he did not see him holding anything while fleeing. After completing interviews and collecting evidence, investigators returned to examine the damaged window and photograph the scene from additional angles. At approximately 1:34 p.m., officers launched a search for the suspect. Police canvassed the surrounding neighborhood, including the area near a nearby convenience store and several residences where the suspect was known to spend time. Despite repeated efforts, officers were unable to locate the suspect, who remained at large at the time the report was completed. The investigation remains ongoing. The defendant is identified as a 22-year-old U.S. National. The affidavit was filed in the District Court on July 02, 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.] Section: Local News Tags: court report
2026-07-13 18:32:35