LONG BEACH (CNS) – Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn Tuesday renewed the push for information leading to a DUI suspect wanted in the killing of a man and his 3-year-old daughter in a hit-and-run crash into a North Long Beach apartment building.
Octavio Montano Islas is suspected of being drunk and inflicting fatal injuries on Jose Palacios-Gonzalez, 42, and Samantha Palacios while they slept around 10 p.m. on March 1, 2022 in their apartment building near Artesia Boulevard and Rose Avenue, according to Hahn, whose district includes North Long Beach.
Montano Islas was 24 at the time of the crash.
Jose Palacios-Gonzalez was pronounced dead at the scene, while Samantha was rushed to a hospital but later succumbed to her injuries. Long Beach Police Department detectives identified the driver, who fled the scene on foot, as Montano Islas.
“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 in a news release. “We are asking anyone who may have any information on where Octavio is or where he may have gone to please share it with detectives. We need your help.”
Authorities said Montano Islas was driving a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 pickup northbound on Rose Avenue near East Artesia Boulevard at the time of the crash. He is now the subject of an arrest warrant alleging two counts of felony manslaughter, one count of felony driving under the influence and one count of felony hit-and-run.
Montano Islas was described as 5-feet-8 inches tall, 160 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and unspecified tattoos on his right forearm.
The reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction had previously been established at $10,000 until the Board of Supervisors approved a motion by Hahn to increase the amount to the current $20,000 in 2025.
Anyone with information regarding Montano Islas’ whereabouts was urged to contact Commander Paul Baum of the LBPD Special Investigations Division at 562-570-7449.
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