US official loses part of left ear in machete attack in American Samoa; man charged
By APWednesday, March 31, 2010
Official attacked with machete in American Samoa
HONOLULU — A 67-year-old man has been arrested in American Samoa following a machete attack that cost a U.S. official part of his ear.
The FBI said Wednesday that Simeti Lualemana (see-ME’-tee loo-ah-lay-MAH’-nah) was charged with assaulting a U.S. government employee performing official duties.
Officials say station chief Mark Cunningham with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was attacked Monday while taking pictures of a house being built by Lualemana on NOAA-controlled land.
Cunningham had previously told the man that the house couldn’t be located on the land.
The FBI says Cunningham lost part of his left ear when he suffered a cut up to nearly six inches long. He was treated at the only hospital in the U.S. territory.
