A suspect wanted by Westminster police on suspicion of fatally stabbing a former NASCAR driver at a gas station was shot and killed by at least one officer at an Anaheim apartment building on Friday night, July 15, as a SWAT team attempted to serve search and arrest warrants.
The 27-year-old suspect, Trent William Millsap, died at UCI Medical Center, Westminster police Deputy Chief Cameron Knauerhaze said Saturday.
Westminster detectives had learned Millsap was in an apartment in the 3300 block of Lincoln Avenue in Anaheim. The West County SWAT Team was sent to serve the warrants on Friday night because of “the level of violence (Millsap) had been exhibiting,” Westminster police Cmdr. Kevin MacCormick said.
At one point, a K-9 was deployed and at least one officer fired, MacCormick said. What specifically led to the gunfire, and whether any weapons were found near Millsap, was still under investigation, Knauerhaze said.
Kimberly Edds, spokeswoman for the Orange County District Attorney’s office, said the shooting investigation would be handled by the State Attorney General’s office, because it was believed Millsap was unarmed.
The police dog was hit by a bullet, but the wound was not life-threatening , MacCormick said. No officers were injured. The dog was released from a veterinary hospital and was with its handler at home as of Saturday afternoon.
Millsap had been identified by Westminster police as the suspect in a fatal stabbing at a 76 gas station, 6322 Westminster Blvd. that occurred just before 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The victim was identified Saturday by coroner’s officials as Robert John East, 37. Westminster police said he lived in San Dimas. He was found suffering a serious stab wound to the chest and later died at a hospital.
East was a former professional racecar driver, who was a three-time United States Auto Club National Champion driver in Silver Crown and Midgets.
He made 11 career starts in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, where he earned two top-10 finishes, and 31 in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series from 2005 to 2008.
He was born in Torrance and later moved to Brownsburg, Indiana, to further his racing career, according to the USAC.
“East was phenomenal in USAC National Sprint Cars as well, most notably on pavement tracks,” USAC said in a Friday statement, adding that the last of his 48 USAC National victories came in 2013 and his last start was in 2014.
Police believe Millsap and the East may have known each other, but further information regarding a motive was not immediately known.
How police learned Millsap was staying at the Anaheim apartment complex was not specified, but Knauerhaze said detectives had been working non-stop, following numerous leads and sightings of the suspect.
Millsap was on parole for armed robbery and had an outstanding warrant out for his arrest, MacCormick said.
Video from OC Hawk showed police investigating at Lexington Courtyard, a three-story apartment complex just east of Knott Avenue.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.