A $20,000 reward has been approved as authorities continue their search for a man suspected of killing a father and his 3-year-old daughter as they slept in their Long Beach apartment four years ago, L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn announced Tuesday.
The reward, proposed by Hahn and approved by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, doubles the previously established $10,000 offer for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of Octavio Montano Islas, who investigators say was the drunk driver responsible for crashing into the family’s apartment near Artesia Boulevard and Rose Avenue on March 1, 2022.
A $20,000 reward in the search for Octavio Montano Islas has been approved by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. (Long Beach Police Department)
Jose Palacios-Gonzalez, 42, died at the scene. His daughter, Samantha Palacios, was rushed to a local hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
“That little girl, she just started living, and to lose her life like that,” witness Veronica Quezada said through tears after the crash. “And the person that did that didn’t stay at the scene and just ran away, that breaks my heart.”
Detectives with the Long Beach Police Department identified Montano Islas, who was 24 at the time, as the driver who fled the scene.
“Jose and Samantha’s loved ones have lived with the pain of this unimaginable loss for more than four years now and still have not gotten justice,” Hahn said. “We are asking anyone who may have information on where Octavio is or where he may have gone to please share it with detectives. We need your help.”
Montano Islas was driving a 2014 Dodge Ram that images show came to a stop halfway inside the victims’ apartment. Surveillance video shows the truck whipping around a corner and speeding down Rose Avenue before slamming into the building.
A truck is seen after crashing into an apartment building in Long Beach on March 2, 2022. (RMG News)
Detectives believe Montano Islas was intoxicated at the time of the crash. An arrest warrant has been issued for two counts of felony manslaughter, one count of felony driving under the influence and one count of felony hit-and-run.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Commander Paul Baum of the Long Beach Police Department’s Special Investigations Division at 562-570-7449.
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