Man Accused in Fatal End of the World Shooting Indicted

A Captain Cook man was indicted on charges in connection to a shooting at End of the World last month that left one man dead.

The indictment against Ioane Asagra, which was filed in 3rd Circuit Court on Thursday, June 24, comes after Judge Joseph P. Florenzo recused himself from the case at the preliminary hearing on June 21. The 27-year-year-old was indicted on second-degree murder and first-degree arson.

According to prosecutors from Hawai‘i County’s Office of the Prosecuting Attorney, the indictment was an expeditious way to move the case forward.

On Friday, June 25, Asagra appeared remotely from Hawai‘i Community Correctional Center before Judge Mahilani Hiatt in Kona where his case was discharged from District Court and moved to 3rd Circuit Court. An arraignment and plea hearing is yet to be scheduled.

Asagra is facing life in prison with the possibility of parole. However, according to the indictment, the prosecutor’s office alleges Asagra is subject to extended terms of imprisonment due to the fact he is a “persistent offender” and already convicted on two felonies. If the court grants the prosecutor’s terms it would take away the possibility of parole.

Asagra was arrested June 16 on an outstanding warrant as well as suspicion of second-degree murder in the death of 46-year-old Joey Richmond, who was found shot on Keauhou Kainaliu Road, also known as “End of the World,” on May 25.

An autopsy showed Richmond died from multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Detectives from HPD’s Area II Criminal Investigation Section also learned the vehicle Richmond was driving, a BMW, had been removed from the scene. It was located the next day on Keala O Keawe Road (Route 160) down an embankment and had been burned.

According to the Hawai‘i Police Department, Asagra was extradited back to the Big Island after receiving medical treatment on O‘ahu.

On May 26, a day after Richmond’s body was discovered, Asagra was scheduled to appear in court on charges stemming from a home invasion in December. According to court minutes, the defendant’s mother informed Asagra’s counsel her son suffered head-to-toe burns, was at the hospital and would be transported to the Straub Burn Center in Honolulu.

Asagra is also facing felony charges in connection to two separate home invasions.