22-year-old Gavin Joshua Quitugua—a person of interest sought in a deadly shooting in Talo’fo’fo’—has now been formally charged in a separate December 2024 high-speed chase. 

According to a magistrate’s complaint, Quitugua allegedly stole a Kia Optima and led police on a dangerous islandwide pursuit—speeding through traffic, weaving into oncoming lanes, and nearly colliding with multiple vehicles.

Police say he crashed into a tree, then reversed into an officer, forcing police to end the chase for public safety.

Quitugua is now charged with burglary, theft by receiving, assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapon, and several other felony and misdemeanor counts.

He was already on pre-trial release for a 2023 burglary case—and days before this new complaint was filed, he self-surrendered to police following an islandwide manhunt tied to a July 5 shooting in Talo’fo’fo’ where a man was found dead with a gunshot wound.