‘End of the World’ murder: Captain Cook man sentenced to life in prison

Thirty-year-old Ioane Asagra – who was found guilty of second-degree murder in June – has been sentenced to life in prison.

Asagra had been found guilty in June of the second-degree murder of drug dealer Joey Richmond and first-degree arson for setting fire to Richmond’s BMW motor vehicle.

Second-degree murder 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 20-year prison term for the arson offense.

On May 25, 2021, Kona patrol officers responded at about 9:30 p.m. to a report of an unresponsive male lying on the ground and discovered 46-year-old Richmond riddled with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Witnesses said a BMW sped away from the scene.

The next day, police found Richmond’s BMW, which had been removed from the shooting scene. It was down an embankment on Keala O Keawe Road (Route 160) in South Kona — and it had been torched.

“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.