Former Eagles player Kevin Johnson may have been murdered by a serial killer
New details emerge surrounding his tragic death
From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/3retx9kk
The murder of former Eagles defensive lineman Kevin Johnson at a Los Angeles homeless encampment may be linked to three other killings in the area, according to reports out of Southern California Tuesday.
The L.A. County medical examiner said Johnson, who played two seasons with the Eagles in the mid-1990s, died of “blunt head trauma and stab wounds” late last month. He was 55.
Johnson’s body was discovered Jan. 21 around 7:30 a.m. on the 1300 block of E. 120th Street in Willowbrook, a community in South Central between Compton and Watts, along a gray, graffiti-tagged tributary of the concrete-lined Los Angeles River often seen in movies.
Johnson, a native of Los Angeles, had suffered from health issues and had been living at the encampment, according to his family. They speculated he may have suffered from CTE.
Four homeless people have been murdered in the vicinity since October, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department said in a release.
“Investigators are working to determine whether these cases are related,” the statement read. “Homicide investigators continue to pursue all investigative leads and remain committed to identifying the individual or individuals responsible for these crimes.”
Five days after Johnson’s murder, Maura Alfaro, another man in his 50s, was killed by blunt force and found on a nearby flood-control channel.
The string of murders began Oct. 5 when a 52-year-old woman, Michelle Steele, was discovered shot in the head but still breathing. She was transported to a hospital but died Nov. 12.
The next killing was Dec. 4, when 52-year-old Octavio Arias died of head and neck trauma after being attacked.
Police are working to determine a possible motive for the homicides. They told KABC-TV (ABC7) they have nothing definitive connecting the crimes, though at least three attacks have a similar M.O. and all four victims were unhoused residents of the area.
Detectives are exploring whether drug and gang activity have played a role or if homeless people are being specifically targeted, ABC7 reported. Most people living in the encampment have been uncooperative with the investigation.
County workers have attempted to move the homeless population out of that area and into housing facilities, but it has been a difficult task.
Johnson was drafted 86th overall out of Texas Southern by the New England Patriots in 1993. He toiled on practice squads for his first three seasons before landing with the Eagles, where he proved himself a solid rotational player.
He appeared in 23 regular-season games here as a defensive tackle in 1995 and 1996 under then-coach Ray Rhodes, recording 43 tackles, seven sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a 37-yard touchdown. He also appeared in three playoff games.
Johnson then spent a season with the Oakland Raiders before a four-year stretch in the Arena Football League, where he played on both sides of the line and helped the Orlando Predators win an ArenaBowl championship in 1998.
Branden Johnson, Kevin’s son, remembers his dad as a “loving, caring, and truly joyful man whose presence brought warmth to everyone around him.”
“My father’s death is a heartbreaking tragedy, especially because he was a constant presence in my life,” Branden expressed in a statement. “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.
“He had a rare gift for making people feel seen, welcomed, and appreciated, never judging and always looking out for others. 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.”
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.