Detectives are investigating a series of murders involving homeless people, including former NFL lineman Kevin Johnson, after the deaths were reported during a three-month time frame in the same area, the LA County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) said Tuesday.
The four people were found dead in the Willowbrook neighborhood of South Los Angeles between October 2025 and January 2026, the sheriff’s department said.
As investigators were trying to determine whether the deaths were related, they discovered one of the victims was Johnson, a Los Angeles native who played in the NFL during the 1990s.
All four victims were unhoused at the time of their deaths, living in homeless encampments on East 120th Street near Central Avenue, according to the LASD.
The LA County medical examiner said two weeks ago that Johnson, 55, died from “blunt head trauma and stab wounds” after being found unconscious at the encampment.
Johnson’s son Branden Johnson issued a statement, saying his father’s homicide has left him and others with a huge void in their lives.
“My father’s death is a heartbreaking tragedy, especially because he was a constant presence in my life,” Branden Johnson said. “There was not a single day he didn’t call to check on me, asking if I worked out, if I prayed, how his granddaughter was doing, and reminding me how much he loved me and how proud he was. The absence of those daily calls has created an indescribable silence.”
The younger Johnson called his father “a loving, caring, and truly joyful man whose presence brought warmth to everyone around him.”
“He had a rare gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and appreciated, never judging and always looking out for others,” Branden Johnson said. “Even through life’s difficulties, he held happiness in his heart and shared it freely with those he loved.
“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 elder Johnson was drafted in the fourth round by New England in 1993 after playing collegiately at Texas Southern. He went on to play for the Patriots, Vikings, Raiders and Eagles.
The sheriff’s department did not announce the identities of three other victims.
Homicide investigators are working closely with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) to follow leads and track down a suspect or suspects, the sheriff’s department added.
Anyone with information was urged to contact the LASD’s homicide bureau at 323-890-5500.
Great Job Helen Jeong and Jonathan Lloyd & the Team @ NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth for sharing this story.
