Franklin Bamba Atoigue, a 46-year-old Pacific Islander, was shot and killed in Carson, California, on October 6, 2017. He had been visiting friends and spending time in a garage when an unknown person knocked at about 5:35 a.m.; after Atoigue opened the door he was shot in the torso by the individual outside. He was taken to hospital and pronounced dead at 7:11 a.m. The shooter ran off on foot and has not been identified; investigators have not established a motive and the incident does not appear to be gang-related.

Atoigue was born in Guam, moved to California with his family in 1981, and returned to California in 2017 to marry his high school sweetheart, Mitchie Valenzuela. The couple lived in Long Beach and Atoigue worked in construction. He was described as joyful and protective toward his son Bryan, his step-children, and numerous nieces and nephews, and his death has left a void for his family.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is handling the investigation and asks anyone with information to come forward. If anyone knew Franklin or has information about the early-morning shooting in Carson, please share what you know.