Joe L. Cisneros-Carrillo, a 23-year-old resident of Montclair, California, was tragically found dead on July 15, 2014. His body was discovered near bushes on the side of the street in the 9600 block of Exeter Avenue after neighbors reported hearing multiple gunshots early that morning. Upon arrival, officers found Cisneros-Carrillo with several gunshot wounds to his chest, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation quickly revealed that a red or burgundy car, possibly a
Chevrolet Camaro, was seen fleeing the scene. Detectives later identified that Cisneros-Carrillo’s girlfriend, Karen Taylor, owned a vehicle matching that description. Taylor, along with her friend Larry Oswalt and her 17-year-old son, were tracked down to a nearby motel. Initially, all three denied involvement in the shooting but admitted to being present at the scene. Their statements conflicted, and further investigation revealed that they had planned to assault Cisneros-Carrillo. During the attack, Oswalt allegedly shot Cisneros-Carrillo multiple times. The trio then fled, changed their clothes, and hid the gun used in the shooting before heading to the motel. The weapon was later recovered by the police.
Karen Taylor, Larry Oswalt, and Taylor’s juvenile son were all arrested and booked on suspicion of homicide. This case marked the first murder in Montclair for the year 2014, a city known for its relatively low crime rate. The arrests and subsequent investigation highlighted the tragic and violent end to Cisneros-Carrillo’s life, shedding light on the circumstances and individuals involved in his untimely death.
