Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that a Captain Cook man, 30 year-old Ioane Asagra, who was found guilty in June by a Kona jury of Murder in the Second Degree and Arson in the First Degree was sentenced to life in prison earlier this month in Kona Circuit Court. The charges stemmed from a May 25, 2021 shooting on Keauhou-Kainaliu Beach Road, at a location known as “End of the World.”
Shortly after 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, police responded to a report of an unresponsive male lying on the ground at Keauhou Kainaliu Beach Road, commonly known as “End of the World”.
Upon Kona patrol officers’ arrival, they discovered a male party, later identified as 46-year-old Joey Richmond, of Kailua-Kona, with what appeared to be multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to the Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy conducted on May 26, 2021 shows that Richmond died from multiple gunshot wounds to the body, and that the manner of death is homicide.
Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and learned that the vehicle Richmond was operating had been removed from the scene.
The vehicle was located the following morning on Keala O Keawe Road (Route 160) down an embankment and had been burned.
As the Indictment alleged, Asagra was charged with Murder in the Second Degree for causing the death of Joey Richmond and Arson in the First Degree for setting fire to a BMW motor vehicle. Murder in the Second Degree carries a penalty of life in prison with the possibility of parole. Arson in the First Degree is a class A felony and carries a penalty of a twenty-year prison term.
Asagra was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the murder offense and a twenty-year prison term for the arson offense.
The investigation was handled by Sergeant Kimmerlyn Makuakane-Jarrell, South Hilo Cellblock, formerly of the Area II Criminal Investigation Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys Kauanoe Jackson and Kate Perazich.
“This sentence reaffirms our Office’s commitment to seek justice for Mr. Richmond. It sends a clear message that we will hold violent offenders accountable to protect our community,” said Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen. “This would not be possible without the hard work and dedication of our police, prosecutors, victim advocates, and support staff. I would like to also thank the jury for their time and service.”
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney remains dedicated to the pursuit of justice with integrity and commitment. Anyone having information to assist local law enforcement should call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300.
