Hawaii Police took a Kailua-Kona man into custody Wednesday in connection with the May 25 shooting death of Joey Richmond at Keauhou-Kainaliu Beach Road, locally known as “End of the World.”
Ioane Asagra was extradited Wednesday afternoon from Honolulu, where he had been recovering from burns allegedly suffered when he set the victim’s car on fire. He was taken into the custody of the Hawaii Police Department upon his arrival at Kona International Airport at Keahole and transported to the Kona Police Station where he was booked on suspicion of second-degree murder. As of press-time Wednesday, he had yet to be charged.
Witnesses reportedly saw a silver- or gray-colored BMW leaving the area at a high rate of speed and head south on the Mamalahoa Bypass at the time of the reported shooting.
Later, police responded to a report of a vehicle on fire off Highway 160. There, they found a silver BMW on fire.
An autopsy determined Richmond died of multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The manner of death was listed as homicide.
At the time of the shooting, Asagra was free on $500,000 bail in connection with a December home invasion.
He faces four counts first-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree burglary, three counts second-degree assault, first-degree robbery, ownership prohibited, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, drug paraphernalia, and accomplice to second-degree reckless endangering stemming from a reported home invasion that took place Dec. 27 at a South Kona home.
According to police, Asagra and another man, Jerome Kahoalii-Heath, allegedly entered the home, demanded drugs and money, and struck three witnesses in the head with a weapon before fleeing in a Honda sedan. The victims were treated on site for their injuries.
On Dec. 30, officers caught up with Kahoalii-Heath and Asagra, along with a 20-year-old woman, within a stolen Jeep Cherokee in the Kona Palisades subdivision. Officers also discovered the suspects left a silver-colored Honda Civic at the scene with an AR-15 rifle lying on the front passenger seat.
The Jeep fled the area and was later located on Kupuna Street in Kailua-Kona where Kahoalii-Heath, and another woman who was not charged with a crime, were taken into custody without incident. Asagra was later located by officers on Highway 180, where he was taken into custody without incident.
Police said four stolen vehicles were recovered and returned to their rightful owners following the investigation. In addition, stolen firearms, ammunition, and illicit narcotics were also located. A trial date in that case is set for June 29.
According to court records, Asagra was also charged in July with first-degree robbery, third-degree theft, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, third-degree promoting of a detrimental drug, third-degree promoting of a dangerous drug and credit card theft. He was released after posting $72,025 bail on those charges and a trial date has not been set.
He also has a 2017 conviction on drug charges.
Anyone who may have information regarding the incident should contact Detective Kimmerlyn Makuakane-Jarrell at (808) 326-4646, ext. 262, via email at Kimmerlyn.Makuakane-Jarrell@hawaiicounty.gov or via the department’s nonemergency line at (808) 935-3311.