Hahn Increases Reward in 2022 Death of Child and her Father in North Long Beach Crash to $20,000

Octavio Montano Islas is suspected of crashing into apartment building killing Jose Palacios-Gonzalez and three year-old Samantha Palacios

Octavio Montano Islas. Courtesy: LBPD

Los Angeles, CA – Today the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion by Supervisor Janice Hahn to reestablish and increase to $20,000 the County’s reward in exchange for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of Octavio Montano Islas, who was identified as the drunk driver responsible for the deaths of 42-year-old Jose Palacios-Gonzalez and his three-year-old daughter Samantha Palacios as they slept in their North Long Beach apartment. The reward had previously been established at $10,000 and expired on August 3.

Around 10pm on March 1, 2022, Long Beach Police Department officers responded to a collision of a vehicle into an apartment building near the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Rose Avenue. Jose Palacios-Gonzalez was declared deceased at the scene, while Samantha was rushed to a local hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. LBPD detectives identified the driver, who fled the scene, as Montano Islas, who was 24 years old at the time.

“Today Samantha would have been seven years old, possibly starting 2nd grade in a few weeks, had Octavio Montano Islas not brutally cut her life short. Nothing will fill the gap left by the deaths of Samantha and her dad Jose, but we need to find this driver and hold him accountable. Their families deserve justice,” said Hahn. “If you know where Octavio is or where he might have gone, please share that information with detectives.”

The vehicle that Montano Islas was driving was a 2014 Dodge Ram. Detectives believe Montano Islas was drunk at the time of the crash. An arrest warrant was issued for him on 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 Scott Jenson of the Long Beach Police Department Detective Division at (562) 570-7218.