Conflicts

Officials probe possible link between ex-NFL player's death and area homicides

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Feb 4, 2026

THE BARE STORY

Los Angeles County detectives announced Tuesday that they are investigating a possible connection between the recent death of former NFL player Kevin Johnson and three other homicides. Johnson, 55, was found dead on January 21, 2026, at a homeless encampment in the unincorporated community of Willowbrook.

According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Johnson died from blunt head trauma and stab wounds. A native of Los Angeles, Johnson played professionally for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders during the 1990s. Authorities discovered his body on the 1300 block of East 120th Street.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirmed that four homicides involving unhoused individuals occurred in the same vicinity between October 2025 and January 2026. While the cases remain under active investigation, officials stated that detectives are working to determine whether the incidents are related.

According to the Sheriff’s Department, the timeline of the deaths began in October 2025, with subsequent homicides reported in December and January. The fourth victim was discovered approximately one week after Johnson's death. Investigators are pursuing leads and have encouraged the public to contact the Homicide Bureau with any relevant information.

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• Connection remains under determination While a link is being probed, officials stated that detectives are currently working to determine *whether* the incidents are related. The investigation is characterized as an inquiry into a "possible connection" rather than a confirmed series of related crimes at this stage.

• Cases remain under active investigation The Sheriff’s Department noted that the cases remain under active investigation, suggesting that the full circumstances of each death are still being established. Johnson’s death, caused by specific injuries including blunt head trauma, is being reviewed alongside the other three homicides.

• Reliance on further leads Investigators are continuing to pursue leads regarding the deaths that spanned from October 2025 to January 2026. Authorities have encouraged the public to contact the Homicide Bureau with relevant information, indicating that additional evidence is needed to fully resolve the timeline and nature of the events.

How it may affect me

As a U.S. reader: Residents and unhoused individuals in the Willowbrook community of Los Angeles County face potential safety concerns following a concentration of four homicides in the vicinity between October 2025 and January 2026. Members of the public with information regarding the timeline of violence or the specific deaths are encouraged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau to assist the active investigation. Community members should note that while officials are probing a possible correlation between the death of former NFL player Kevin Johnson and three other victims, a definitive link has not yet been confirmed.

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