Pada tanggal 13 Juli 2022, saat mengisi mobilyamobiya dengan bensin di [[76 (pom bensin)|pompa bensin 76]] di [[Westminster, California]], East didatangi oleh [[Trent Millsap]], seorang transien yang memiliki surat perintah untuk pelanggaran pembebasan bersyarat padanya. Keduanya bertukar kata dan Millsap menikam East di dadanya; East dilarikan ke rumah sakit, tetapi meninggal dunia karena luka-lukanya tak lama kemudian.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mynewsla.com/crime/2022/07/14/police-seek-suspect-in-fatal-stabbing-in-westminster|title=Police Seek Suspect in Fatal Stabbing in Westminster |work=MyLAnews.com |date=14 Juli 2022 |access-date=16 Juli 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.speedsport.com/sprints-midgets/usac/three-time-usac-champion-east-dies-at-37/|title=Three-time USAC champion East dies at 37|date=15 Juli 2022|accessdate=15 Juli 2022|website=speedsport.com|publisher=Turn 3 Media, LLC.}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Richie |url=http://usacracing.com/news/silver-crown/item/11394-bobby-east-3-time-usac-national-champion-passes-away-at-37|title=Bobby East, 3-time USAC National Champion, Passes Away at 37 |work=USAC Racing |publisher=[[United States Auto Club]] |date=15 Juli 2022 |access-date=16 Juli 2022 }}</ref> Millsap kemudian ditemukan bersembunyi di sebuah apartemen di dekat [[Anaheim]] dan tewas dalam baku tembak dengan polisi Orange County.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://mynewsla.com/crime/2022/07/16/westminster-police-kill-suspect-in-slaying-of-nascar-driver-bobby-east|title=Westminster Police Kill Suspect in Slaying of NASCAR Driver Bobby East |work=MyLAnews.com |date=July 16, 2022 |access-date=July 16, 2022 }}</ref>
