Former Auburn resident murdered

Rambunctious, adventurer and outdoor enthusiast were words the family and friends of Matthew Toste used to describe the son and brother they lost all too soon.Toste, 32, who grew up in Auburn, was shot and killed Sunday in Santa Rosa."He was the kind of guy who would go into a bar full of 50 strangers and when he left there were 50 people who knew Matt Toste," said Thaddeus Toste of his younger brother.Matthew Toste was shot by suspected street gang members following a verbal argument, officials said. Toste was with a female cousin and another woman walking out of a downtown Santa Rosa parking garage when they were confronted by five "criminal street gang members," officials said."They five started verbally harassing (Toste and the women) when Toste stepped in," said. Sgt. Lisa Banayat of the Santa Rosa Police Department.The verbal argument escalated culminating with shot being fired. Toste was pronounced dead at the scene. Officials arrested Paul Whiterock, 26, and Joseph Lopez Jr., 18, both Santa Rosa in connection with the murder.Thaddeus Toste, 34, now lives in Sacramento. He said Tuesday that he doesn't want his younger brother to be remembered for the violent way his life ended. He painted a picture of a young, adventurous and well-traveled man who focused on living his life well."Matt spent time in Alaska doing everything from lumberjacking to sport and commercial fishing," Thaddeus Toste said. "He was a jet ski tour guide in the British Virgin Islands and was a bartender in San Diego. He was trying to be Tom cruise from Cocktail. He did a lot."It was 4 a.m. Sunday morning when Thaddeus Toste received the phone call informing him that his younger brother had been murdered."I was signed up to do a marathon ... I knew he'd want me to finish it," Toste said. "I was thinking running for him would carry me through the race. It wasn't like that. It was sobbing and hurting, but I finished."Toste said his brother was actively involved fitness and hiking."One of his favorite places was at the top of Half Dome," he said. "He loved anything to do with the outdoors. He was really at a point in his life where that was important."Bob Toste, Matthew's father, spoke Tuesday about his youngest child. He said "Matt" was tolerant of other's views, reflective and looking forward to the next phase of his life."He set goals for himself and was never quite satisfied," Bob Toste said. "He said to me, 'I'm not complacent with who I am, although I'm happy, I want to continue to grow.'" Matthew Toste grew up in Auburn, attended Placer High School. As a young man he would spend countless hours hiking the trails in the American River Canyon. His longtime friend Robert Ralls said Tuesday that the younger Toste was always up for having a good time."He was a couple years younger and tagged along with us," Ralls said. "He always wanted to be like us."Employed since April by Granite Construction Co., Matthew Toste had worked as a journeyman laborer building retaining walls to repair landslides on highways 1 and 116. He is survived by his brother, his sister-in law Shannon Toste, of Sacramento his 5-year-old son Dominic Stevens, his mother Sally Lewis, of Alaska, his father Bob Toste and stepmother Sande Toste of Roseville, and his sister Cathy Toman and her husband David Toman, of Sacramento.A celebration of life is scheduled to be held from 3 p.m. to 7:30 Sunday Dec. 10 at The Ridge Golf Course in Auburn. The family asks that friends bring "happy faces" and any photographs or stories they would like to share.The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com. Dominic Stevens Memorial FundMatthew Toste left behind his young son, Dominic Stevens.Contributions can be made to:Patelco Credit Union5040 Foothills Blvd.Roseville, CA 95747Minor account: Dominic Stevens