Victim in double shooting remembered as “beautiful soul”

A victim of last week’s deadly double shooting in Mordialloc has been remembered as a “legend” with a “beautiful soul”. The grandfather was shot on Thursday evening outside of his home.

A victim of last week’s deadly double shooting in Mordialloc has been remembered as a “legend” with a “beautiful soul”.

62-year-old father and grandfather Saumotu Gasio was shot dead on Thursday evening outside of his bayside home.

Mr Gasio’s son, Rasta, took to Facebook to commemorate his father’s life, with hundreds of tributes for the 62-year-old also flooding in.

“Life is short, if you love someone make sure to tell them every day because you don’t know if it’s going to be the last time you get to,” Rasta said.

“I love you with all my heart Dad.”

The proud Samoan will leave behind a large family, which was soon to grow even larger with son Rasta expecting a baby boy in May.

62-year-old father and grandfather Saumotu Gasio was shot dead on Thursday evening outside of his bayside home.

Mr Gasio’s niece, Jullyn Gasio Sialaoa, said his “contagious smile and presence” would be missed.

“I will miss hearing you say ‘I shouldn’t eat ice cream because of my sugar levels but what the heck you only live once’,” she said on Facebook.

“Thank you for sharing our family history with me.

“I promise to always treasure it.”

Having owned a martial arts school for many years, several of Mr Gasio’s students fondly remembered training with him and learning from him.

“Thank you for teaching me how to kick ass and win a medal within the first three seconds of my comp,” one person wrote.

“You taught me the art of boxing and I have always been loyal to you and your work since,” another said.

Many of the tributes remembered Mr Gasio as a strong and dignified man, “much respected and liked by many”.

Emergency services were called to an address in McDonald St about 9.10pm on Thursday evening following reports of gunshots.

Police investigated the double murder at a property at McDonald Street Mordialloc. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Mr Gasio and his 72-year-old neighbour were critically injured and died at the scene.

Another neighbour, Rodney Lee, 73, has been charged with two counts of murder, recklessly endangering life and assaulting an emergency service worker.