Kevin Johnson, a former National Football League (NFL) defensive lineman, was discovered dead at a homeless camp in Willowbrook, Los Angeles. His death was ruled a homicide by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, with the cause of death listed as blunt head trauma and stab wounds. Johnson was 55 years old at the time of his death.
A report of an unconscious man led deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department to the scene on the 1300 block of East 120th Street, around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. Johnson was declared dead at the location just before 8 a.m.
Johnson was believed to have been residing at the encampment at the time he was killed. The investigation into his death is ongoing, with no arrests made so far.
According to friends, Johnson had been dealing with health problems in recent years, which had contributed to his housing instability. They also suggested that he might have been suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries, commonly associated with football and other contact sports.
“He was my best friend. I was best man at his wedding,” said Bruce Todd, a close friend of Johnson. “Great guy, fun-loving. The community is going to miss him.”
Born on Oct. 30, 1970, in Los Angeles, California, Johnson attended Westchester High School before pursuing his football career in college. He developed into a promising defensive lineman while playing for Texas Southern University, which drew the attention of the NFL.
The New England Patriots drafted Johnson in the fourth round in 1993. Despite not making the Patriots’ roster, he eventually established himself in the NFL. He also had stints with the Minnesota Vikings before settling with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Johnson’s NFL career gained momentum with the Eagles, where he played from 1995 to 1996. In his debut season with Philadelphia in 1995, he registered 19 total tackles and six sacks. He also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery that year.
In 1996, Johnson made 24 tackles and one sack with the Eagles. Over his two seasons in Philadelphia, he accumulated 43 tackles and seven sacks in 23 games.
Johnson joined the Oakland Raiders in 1997, where he played 15 games and made 11 tackles. This marked his last season in the NFL, but he continued his professional football career in the Arena Football League.
After his NFL career, Johnson moved to the Arena Football League and played for several teams. He won an Arena Bowl championship with the Orlando Predators in 1998. Johnson later played for the Los Angeles Avengers, which brought his professional career back to his hometown.
CTE, the brain disease friends suspect Johnson may have had, can only be confirmed posthumously. The disease is linked to a myriad of issues, including memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, aggression, and progressive dementia.
Willowbrook, where Johnson was found, is located in South Los Angeles and has been significantly impacted by homelessness. Violence in homeless encampments has increasingly become a concern for law enforcement, as these vulnerable communities often face threats with limited access to security or emergency services.
In recent days, Los Angeles County homicide detectives have revealed that Johnson’s killing is being examined as one of a series of four homicides involving homeless individuals in the same Willowbrook/Compton Creek encampment area along East 120th Street. Authorities now believe the deaths — which occurred between October 2025 and Jan. 2026 — may be connected, as all four victims were unhoused people living in nearby encampments, and the shootings, blunt-force attacks, and stabbings have occurred within a tight geographic area.
Investigators are exploring whether a single suspect may be responsible for multiple slayings, though no arrests have been made and motives remain undetermined. Law enforcement continues to urge anyone with information to contact the LASD Homicide Bureau as the broader probe into the string of killings continues.