City and County Jointly Issue $25,000 Reward for information Leading to the Arrest of Double Fatal Hit-and-Run Suspect

LONG BEACH, CA – The City of Long Beach, with support from the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, has issued a $25,000 reward for information leading to the apprehension and/or conviction of Octavio Montano Islas, the driver responsible for the early March double fatal hit-and-run collision that tragically killed two Long Beach residents, 42-year-old Jose Palacios Gonzales and 3-year-old Samantha Palacios. The City is contributing $15,000 and the Board of Supervisors is contributing $10,000, for a total reward of $25,000.

“The deaths of Jose and Samantha have had a devastating, lasting impact on our community,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “We are hopeful this reward will encourage those with information to come forward, and I want to thank Supervisor Hahn for supporting these efforts as well.”

“The Palacios family has been devastated by this hit-and-run crash that took the lives of a man and his young daughter,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “If you have any information about the whereabouts of the suspect in this crime, I urge you to come forward. This family needs and deserves justice.”

The item regarding the reward was brought to the Long Beach City Council on March 22 by Vice Mayor Rex Richardson and Councilmember co-sponsors Roberto Uranga and Cindy Allen, and approved by the full Council, pending the discussion and eventual issuance of a reward from the Board of Supervisors, which was subsequently sponsored by Fourth District Supervisor Janice Hahn. On April 5, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved the County’s support towards a reward.

“This act of destruction has no place in our city,” said Vice Mayor Richardson. “Octavio Montano Islas must be brought to justice and answer for his horrendous acts, and we need the public’s help to find him.”

On March 1, 2022, at approximately 10 p.m., Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) officers were dispatched to the area of Artesia Boulevard and Rose Avenue regarding a collision of a vehicle into a building. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 2014 Dodge Ram pickup truck collided with an apartment building in the 6600 block of Rose Avenue which resulted in the death of two victims. The driver fled the scene and remains outstanding.

On March 9, 2022, LBPD announced the suspect had been identified as 24-year-old Octavio Montano Islas and that detectives presented a case against Islas to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, who issued an arrest warrant for Islas.

Islas is described as follows:

Age: 24-years-old
Gender: Male
Race: Hispanic
Height: 5’ 8
Weight: 160
Hair: Black
Scars/Marks/Tattoos: Tattoos on right forearm

Anyone with information regarding Islas’ whereabouts, or the fatal hit-and-run collision is asked to contact Detective Kevin Johansen of the LBPD Collision Investigation Detail at 562.570.7355. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may submit a tip through “LA Crime Stoppers” by calling 1.800.222.TIPS (8477), downloading the “P3 Tips” app to your smartphone (available at the Apple App store and Google Play), or visiting www.lacrimestoppers.org.