Police responded to the gas station Wednesday evening and found East suffering from a wound to the chest, police said. He later died of his injuries.
Trent William Milsap was identified as a primary suspect in the fatal stabbing and authorities obtained a warrant for his arrest Friday, the release said.
A SWAT team was requested because of “the level of violence (Milsap) had been exhibiting,” police said. As authorities attempted to arrest Milsap, he allegedly became confrontational, was shot and later died at a hospital, according to police.
A police K-9 that was deployed at the scene also sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound, police said.
“At the time of the officer involved shooting, Milsap was on parole for armed robbery and had an outstanding warrant for his arrest for an unrelated parole violation,” police said.
The motive in the stabbing is not known, police added.
Westminster police, the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and the Justice Department will be investigating the officer-involved shooting, the release said.