The American Samoa government is amending charges against four high school students in connection with the beating of a 21 year old.
The defendants, three of whom are under 18, were charged with first degree assault.
However the victim of the May 29th beating died yesterday morning.
Assistant Attorney General Faamomoi Masaniai says an autopsy will be conducted tomorrow, and confirmed that he intends to charge all four defendants with first degree murder.
The reported beating of Nicholas Mahe with a galvanised pipe in broad daylight has shocked the territory.
Mr Mahe never regained consciousness after the beating and was kept alive on a life support system.
