Kevin Johnson, a former NFL player who was drafted in the early 1990s, has been identified as the victim of a killing at a homeless encampment near Los Angeles.
Johnson, 55, was found dead Wednesday, Jan. 21, on East 120th Street in the unincorporated Willowbrook area, outside of Compton.
His cause of death is listed as “blunt head trauma and stab wounds” on the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s website. The manner of death is homicide at a “homeless encampment.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the case and asked anyone with information on Johnson’s death to contact authorities.
The former professional football player’s friends told local news station ABC 7 he had been living on the streets after suffering health problems they believe were caused by CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, caused by repeated head injuries.
Johnson grew up in Los Angeles, and was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1993, according to NFL.com.
The defensive lineman later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Oakland Raiders.
“The Eagles are saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Johnson,” the team said Friday in a statement on its website.
After leaving the NFL, Johnson pivoted to the Arena Football League and played for the Orlando Predators and the L.A. Avengers.
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