The investigation into Kevin Johnson’s death has taken a troubling turn.
According to NBC News, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department announced that the killing of the former NFL defensive lineman may be connected to three additional homicides involving unhoused people in the same South Los Angeles neighborhood.
All four deaths happened near encampments along East 120th Street, close to a flood control channel in the Willowbrook area.
Authorities said the other killings occurred between October 2025 and January 2026 and remain unsolved.
“All four victims were unhoused individuals who were living in encampments,” the 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.”
Detectives are now working alongside homeless outreach teams as they canvass the area and speak with residents. Officials are also asking anyone with information to come forward.
Johnson, 55, was discovered on January 21 after deputies responded to reports of an unconscious man at an encampment along the channel. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.
The county medical examiner later determined his cause of death to be blunt head trauma and stab wounds, ruling the case a homicide.
Another body was found in nearly the same location days later, according to sheriff’s officials, adding urgency to the broader investigation.
Before the headlines and crime tape, Kevin Johnson was known for his years in professional football.
A Los Angeles native, he played college ball at Texas Southern University before making it to the NFL in the mid-1990s. Johnson played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders, appearing in multiple seasons as a defensive lineman.
After his NFL stint, he continued playing professionally in arena football, extending his career with teams including the Orlando Predators and the Los Angeles Avengers.
Friends previously said health struggles later in life may have contributed to his circumstances, with some suspecting long-term effects tied to repeated head injuries.
Family members have shared memories that paint a different picture than the one in recent reports. Johnson’s son described him as “loving, caring and truly joyful,” adding, “My dad was selfless, loyal, and deeply cherished. His absence leaves a huge void, but his love, laughter, and spirit will live on through everyone whose life he touched.”
The sheriff’s department says the investigation into Johnson’s death — and the possible link to the other homicides — is ongoing.
