Sheriff’s detectives Friday continued a homicide investigation regarding the killing of a 55-year-old former NFL player who was found in a homeless encampment in the unincorporated Willowbrook area of Los Angeles.
Kevin Johnson was identified as the victim by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office, which stated he died of head trauma and stab wounds.
The L.A. native’s death was reported about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block of East 120th Street, near Central Avenue at a homeless encampment, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
According to various reports, Johnson was a former NFL defensive lineman who was drafted in 1993 by the New England Patriots. He later played with the Philadelphia Eagles and left the league after spending his final season in 1997 with the then-Oakland Raiders.
He went on to play in the Arena Football League for the Orlando Predators and the Los Angeles Avengers, winning an Arena Bowl while with the Predators.
The location of his death was about a mile away from where federal immigration authorities arrested a man who they called a “violent criminal illegal alien from El Salvador” Wednesday morning, but authorities have not said whether there was any connection between the two cases.
Anyone with information about Johnson’s death was asked to contact 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.