The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau was investigating a series of homicide cases Tuesday that occurred within a short time frame in the unincorporated Willowbrook area..
Four homicides occurred between October 2025 and January 2026, all involving victims believed to be unhoused individuals living in encampments near the 1300 block of East 120th Street, between Compton and Wilmington avenues.
The Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau continued an investigation Tuesday to determine whether the cases are related.
Detectives have been working collaboratively with personnel from the Century Sheriff’s Station, the Operation Safe Streets Bureau and the Community Partnerships Bureau, including the Mental Evaluation Team and the Homeless Outreach Services Team, in partnership with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, to provide outreach, resources, and services while the investigation remains ongoing.
One victim was 55-year-old Kevin Johnson, a defensive tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and 1996 and Oakland Raiders in 1997.
Johnson was found on Jan. 21 at a homeless encampment at about 7:30 a.m. in the 1300 block of East 120th Street, near Central Avenue, suffering from blunt force trauma and stab wounds, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.
Johnson’s son Branden Johnson issued a statement on Friday 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 also played for the Arena Football League’s Orlando Predators from 1998-99 and Los Angeles Avengers from 2000-01. He was a member of the Predators’ 1998 ArenaBowl-winning team.
Anyone with information about Johnson’s death was asked to call Lt. Steve De Jong, who is in charge of the investigation, at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Crime Stoppers by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477) or visiting lacrimestoppers.org.