Who was Trent William Millsap? Homeless man on parole who killed NASCAR star Bobby East SHOT DEAD by SWAT
The man who was being sought by police for fatally stabbing NASCAR star Bobby East in California has been gunned down by a SWAT team in Anaheim, police have confirmed. Trent William Millsap, 27, was killed on Friday, July 15, when shots rang out as a SWAT team was serving a search warrant. No officers were injured but a police K-9 sustained a single non-life threatening gunshot wound. Westminster Police Department had earlier described Millsap as a “transient and known to frequent Westminster, Garden Groce and Anaheim motels.”
Robert John East (popularly known as Bobby East) of San Dimas, California, was killed last week at a Southern California gas station. Officers responding to a report of a stabbing at a 76 gas station found East on the ground with a "serious stab wound to the chest area," the Westminster Police Department said. He was transported to a local hospital but could not be saved. "Officers attempted life saving measures until OCFA paramedics arrived and transported the victim to a local trauma center, where the victim succumbed to his injury," Westminister Police said in a statement.
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Millsap reportedly fled the area after the stabbing. At the time, police had warned that the suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. Millsap "became confrontational with officers and a police K-9 was deployed" during the execution of the warrant on Friday, police said. "Subsequently an officer involved shooting occurred," they added. Millsap was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The Westminster Police Department said that it is investigating the shooting along with the Orange County District Attorney's office and the Department of Justice.
🚨 #PressRelease: Homicide at Gas Station
— Westminster PD (CA) (@WestminsterPDCA) July 14, 2022
On July 13, 2022, at about 5:51 pm, WPD officers responded to the 76 gas station (6322 Westminster Blvd.) re: a stabbing. Trent William Millsap is suspected of stabbing the victim.
Read the full release: https://t.co/RWqrzwxjAi pic.twitter.com/NKGcNcrrRz
The attack on East is being investigated and a motive is still unknown. A 37-year-old three-time United States Auto Club National Champion, East became the youngest United States Auto Club feature winner ever in 2001 after winning the USAC National Midget event at Illiana Motor Speedway in Schererville, Indiana, at the age of 16. "Bobby East, one of the most prolific drivers of his era and a three-time USAC National Champion driver in USAC Silver Crown and Midgets, passed away on Wednesday night. He was just 37 years old," USAC Racing wrote on Twitter.
Bobby East, one of the most prolific drivers of his era and a three-time USAC National Champion driver in USAC Silver Crown and Midgets, passed away on Wednesday night.
— USAC Racing (@USACNation) July 15, 2022
He was just 37 years old.
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📸 John Mahoney pic.twitter.com/7n34s3zOtw
Who was Trent William Millsap?
Police said Trent William Millsap was a homeless man who was on parole for armed robbery and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for an unrelated parole violation, ABC News reported. He is also accused of stabbing another man at the 76 gas station before killing East.
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Millsap's sister, Rosa, announced her brother's death on Facebook. However, it is unclear if she knew about the circumstances around his death. "It’s with a heavy heart I make this post, my Brother passed away last night, it hasn’t hit me yet that he is gone. Please send your thoughts as we prepare for this hard journey. I love you so much Bro," Rosa Yolanda Millsap wrote.