Franklin Bamba Atoigue, 46

Franklin Bamba Atoigue, a 46-year-old Pacific Islander, died Friday, Oct. 6, after he was shot in the 23500 block of Panama Avenue in Carson, according to Los Angeles County coroner’s records.

Atoigue was visiting friends in Carson and they were hanging out in the garage when someone knocked on the door at 5:35 a.m., Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Joe Mendoza said. 

When Atoigue opened the door, someone outside opened fire, striking him in the torso, Mendoza said.

Atoigue was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:11 a.m., according to coroner’s records. 

The shooter fled on foot, Mendoza said. Investigators don’t have a description of the gunman or a motive for the shooting, although they say it does not appear to be gang-related.

Atoigue was born in Guam and moved to California with family in 1981, according to his niece Raelene Atoigue.

Most of the family moved back to Guam a few years later, she said, but he returned to California in 2017 and married his high school sweetheart, Mitchie Valenzuela, in June. The couple lived in Long Beach. 

Atoigue worked in construction, she said. His 22-year-old son serves in the U.S. Army. 

“Frank brought laughter and joy in the lives of every person he knew,” his niece wrote in an email. “He dedicated his life to being a protector of children, especially his son Bryan, step-children Mya, Nikki, Reianna and Daniel, and countless nieces and nephews. To know Frank was to love him.”  

Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477.  

Photo: Franklin Bamba Atoigue is seen in a photograph provided by his family. 

Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.