The tragic death of former NFL player Kevin Johnson is potentially tied to a series of killings involving homeless individuals in Los Angeles County.
According to officials, Johnson’s murder could be connected to three other unsolved homicides in the Willowbrook area, all of which occurred near homeless encampments along a flood control channel.
Kevin Johnson Found Dead in Willowbrook
On January 21, 2026, Kevin Johnson, 55, was discovered at a homeless encampment located along a flood control channel in the Willowbrook neighborhood of South Los Angeles, per NBC News.
The sheriff’s department reported that Johnson was suffering from "head trauma" when he was found. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
A Pattern of Homicides in the Same Area
The sheriff's department confirmed that three other homicides had taken place in the same area, near East 120th Street, per ABC 7.
These killings, all involving unhoused individuals, occurred between October 2025 and January 2026. The victims were found living in encampments along the same channel where Johnson's body was discovered.
"All four victims were unhoused individuals who were living in encampments," the sheriff’s department said in a statement.
"Homicide investigators continue to pursue all investigative leads and remain committed to identifying the individual or individuals responsible for these crimes."
The sheriff’s office is working with homeless outreach workers to further investigate the deaths. They are urging anyone with information to come forward.
Kevin Johnson’s Cause of Death and Investigation Details
The county medical examiner determined that Johnson’s cause of death was “blunt head trauma and stab wounds.”
Investigators believe he had been living in the encampment at the time of his death.
Authorities have not yet publicly shared the exact details or locations of the other three homicides, but the timing and proximity suggest a possible connection.
In another unsettling development, a separate homicide was reported at nearly the same location on January 26, 2026. Deputies were called to the area shortly after midnight to investigate a death. Paramedics declared the victim dead at the scene, and the investigation is ongoing.
A Former NFL Player’s Struggles and Legacy
Kevin Johnson, a former defensive lineman in the NFL, played in the 1990s for teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders.
His tragic death has shocked friends and family, especially his son, Branden Johnson. Branden shared with NBC Los Angeles that while his father occasionally lived on the streets, he could have stayed with family or friends if he had wanted to.
"He was a loving man. He was a family man. He was a father, a friend, and all of the above,” Branden Johnson said. “He loved everyone around him and would give his shirt off his back just to make sure everybody else around him was OK.”
A Possible Link to CTE
Friends of Kevin Johnson have speculated that he may have suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain condition associated with repeated head injuries that many former NFL players face.
CTE has been linked to mood swings, depression, and violent behavior, which may provide some context for Johnson's struggles in his later years.
Branden Johnson’s Reaction
Branden Johnson expressed his devastation upon hearing the news of his father's death and the possibility that it might be part of a larger pattern of violence.
“It’s devastating just to know that there’s somebody out here doing this to these people,” he told NBC Los Angeles. His words reflect the deep sense of loss felt by both his family and the community, as they struggle to comprehend the reasons behind the senseless killings.