The recent death of former NFL player Kevin Johnson has raised concerns among law enforcement, as it may be linked to a series of homicides involving unhoused individuals in the area surrounding Los Angeles County. Detectives revealed that Johnson’s death, which occurred last month, is being investigated alongside three other killings that took place over the past four months.
Johnson, who was 55 years old and originally from Los Angeles, had a notable career playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders during the 1990s. He was discovered deceased on January 21 at a homeless encampment located in the 1300 block of E. 120th Street in Willowbrook, near Compton. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner determined that his cause of death was due to “blunt head trauma and stab wounds.”
According to a statement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, between October 2025 and January 2026, four homicides occurred in this vicinity, all of which are currently under active investigation by the Homicide Bureau. Investigators are working diligently to ascertain whether these cases are connected.
All four victims were reported to be unhoused individuals residing in encampments in close proximity to one another. A week after Johnson’s death, law enforcement responded to another incident in the same area, where a man was found deceased near a flood control channel.
A memorial for Kevin Johnson was established near the homeless encampment in Willowbrook on January 25, 2026. However, details regarding the two earlier deaths that occurred prior to January remain scarce.
The Homicide Bureau is actively pursuing all investigative leads and is dedicated to identifying the person or persons responsible for these tragic events. Authorities are encouraging anyone with additional information to reach out to the LASD’s Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500.
