Former NFL Philadelphia Eagles player Kevin Johnson found dead at Los Angeles homeless encampment in apparent murder
LOS ANGELES (WPVI) — Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Kevin Johnson was found dead Wednesday morning at a homeless encampment in the Willowbrook area of Los Angeles. He was 55.
Johnson was found in the 1300 block of East 120th Street after deputies responded just before 8 a.m. to a report of an unconscious man, sheriff’s officials said. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Johnson’s cause of death was listed as “blunt head trauma” and “stab wounds,” and the manner of death was ruled a homicide, according to L.A. County Medical Examiner records.
Investigators believe the former football player had been living at the encampment. They’re asking for help from any witnesses who might have seen what happened.
Friends say Johnson had health issues later in life that led him to live on the streets, but they called him a wonderful friend who still made an impact on his community.
“He was my best friend. I was best man at his wedding. Great guy, fun-loving. The community is going to miss him,” Bruce Todd told KABC-TV.
His friends said Johnson had health problems that they believe might have been the result of CTE.
Johnson, a native of Los Angeles, played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders from 1995-1997.
After his career in the NFL ended, he played in the Arena Football League with the Orlando Predators and L.A. Avengers.
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