Former NFL defensive lineman Kevin Johnson was pronounced dead Wednesday morning at a homeless encampment in South Los Angeles, and the county medical examiner on Thursday ruled his death a homicide from blunt head trauma and stab wounds, authorities said.
Johnson’s killing spotlights the end of a onetime pro career that began in the NFL in 1993 and later moved to the Arena Football League. Investigators with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are reconstructing his final hours and asking witnesses from the encampment to come forward. Officials identified Johnson, 55, and notified relatives. No arrests were announced as of Friday, and detectives have not released a suspect description. The case remains in the early stages while forensic work and interviews continue.
Deputies responded just before 8 a.m. Wed., Jan. 21, to a report of an unconscious man in the Willowbrook area near the 1300 block of East 120th Street, according to sheriff’s officials. Paramedics pronounced Johnson dead at the scene. The medical examiner later listed the cause as blunt head trauma and stab wounds and classified the manner of death as homicide. “It appears he was homeless and likely living at the location,” Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve De Jong said. Investigators canvassed nearby streets for cameras and spoke with people who had seen Johnson in recent weeks.
Records show Johnson, a Los Angeles native, played college football at Los Angeles Harbor College and Texas Southern University before the New England Patriots drafted him in the fourth round in 1993. He later spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Oakland Raiders and had his best NFL stretch with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and 1996, recording seven sacks, 43 tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown. He appeared in 15 games for the Raiders in 1997 and later won an Arena Football League title with the Orlando Predators before playing for the Los Angeles Avengers. Officials on Friday did not release the exact coordinates of the encampment, citing ongoing witness work. A toxicology screen, if ordered, was not immediately available.
Detectives said they were building a timeline of Johnson’s movements in the days before his death, including who last saw him and whether there were disputes or visitors to the site overnight. Crime-lab technicians collected items at the scene for DNA and trace analysis. Investigators said they were reviewing surveillance video from nearby businesses and transit corridors that might show activity around sunrise Wednesday. Authorities said they have not determined the sequence of injuries. Friends and former teammates told reporters Johnson had struggled with health problems after football; officials said those issues may have contributed to his housing instability. The medical examiner’s ruling did not specify intoxicants, and a full autopsy report is pending.
Johnson’s death follows several high-profile violent incidents near encampments in South Los Angeles in recent years. County homelessness counts have identified clusters in industrial corridors and along major streets, including near East 120th Street, where deputies were called in this case. During his time with the Eagles, Johnson worked as a rotational interior lineman and drew praise from coaches for his quick first step. At Texas Southern, he helped anchor a defensive front that produced consecutive winning seasons, which drew attention from scouts despite the program’s status outside the Power Five. His transition to the Arena league extended his football career as his NFL snaps dwindled.
As of Friday, sheriff’s officials said no public briefing had been scheduled. Detectives with the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau are leading the investigation with assistance from county crime-lab personnel. The medical examiner plans to release additional findings when the full autopsy is complete. If investigators identify a suspect, the case would be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for filing; otherwise, an update is expected the week of Jan. 26. Team statements from Philadelphia and Las Vegas acknowledged Johnson’s contributions and offered condolences to his family.
People who stayed near the encampment described Johnson as quiet and often alone. “He kept to himself, but he was friendly,” said a man who said he had camped nearby in recent weeks. A youth coach who knew Johnson after his playing days said he “loved the game and tried to give kids a chance to learn it the right way.” Former Raiders staffers recalled a “hard worker” who earned snaps in practice and pushed younger linemen. The Eagles noted his two-season stint on their defensive front and his fumble return for a score in 1995.
Johnson’s killing remains unsolved. The next anticipated milestone is the release of the full coroner’s report or a scheduling notice for a Sheriff’s Department briefing the week of Jan. 26.
Author note: Last updated January 23, 2026.