The Commissioner of Public Safety in American Samoa, Le'i Sonny Thompson, has confirmed a police raid was launched on Thursday in the vicinity of the Tafuna Elementary School.
The Commissioner of Public Safety in American Samoa Le'i Sonny Thompson (c) Photo: RNZI/Monica Miller
Many parents were upset their children were apparently put at risk with armed police running around the vicinity of the school.
Tafuna Elementary Acting Principal Lita Marie Timoteo said the school was still in session when the raid happened and there had been no communication between the Department of Public Safety and the school "before, during and after the raid".
"The DPS put our students and personnel's lives at risk," she said.
However Commissioner Le'i said the raid was to execute a search warrant issued by the High Court pertaining to evidence of Assault in the First Degree, Attempted Murder in the First Degree, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, and/or Unlawful use of Weapon.
He did not comment further on the matter and did not answer other questions sent to him.
