Stabbing of former NFL player Kevin Johnson possibly linked to 3 other killings, officials say

The stabbing decease of erstwhile NFL antiaircraft lineman Kevin Johnson could beryllium linked to a bid of homicides, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) said connected Tuesday.

The LASD's Homicide Bureau is investigating a bid of homicide cases that took spot betwixt October 2025 and January 2026 astir the aforesaid area, the 1300 artifact of East 120th Street. During that timeframe, 4 homicides occurred successful the area, each of which stay nether progressive probe by the homicide bureau, according to LASD. One of the cases is the stabbing decease of Johnson, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders successful the 1990s.

Johnson's assemblage was discovered astatine a stateless encampment connected Jan. 21. His origin of decease was listed arsenic blunt caput trauma and stab wounds, records showed.

FORMER NFL DEFENSIVE LINEMAN STABBED TO DEATH IN LOS ANGELES, RECORDS SHOW

Defensive lineman Kevin Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles moves down the tract during a crippled against the Washington Redskins astatine RFK Stadium successful Washington, D.C., connected Nov. 26, 1995. (Otto Greule Jr./Allsport)

"All 4 victims were unhoused individuals who were surviving successful encampments successful the vicinity of the 1300 artifact of East 120th Street," LASD said.

The LASD added that investigators from its Homicide Bureau were moving with unit from the Century Sheriff’s Station and the Operation Safe Streets Bureau successful their investigations of the homicides.

A stateless encampment successful Willowbrook connected Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026, successful Los Angeles, Calif. (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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The bid of killings successful the Compton Creek country started connected Oct. 5, 2025, erstwhile a woman, identified arsenic 52-year-old Michelle Steele, was changeable successful the head, according to KABC-TV, which cited sources adjacent to the investigation. She aboriginal died successful the infirmary connected Nov. 12, 2025. Then, connected Dec. 4, 2025, 52-year-old Octavio Arias was killed successful the aforesaid area, KABC-TV reported, adding that Arias died of caput and cervix trauma. Johnson was the 3rd victim.

The LASD said a recovered the 4th unfortunate was recovered connected Jan. 26. KABC-TV reported identified that unfortunate arsenic Mauro Alfaro, adding that sources said the origin of decease was blunt unit trauma.

A memorial for erstwhile NFL and Westchester High lineman Kevin Johnson beryllium adjacent a stateless encampment successful Willowbrook connected Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026 successful Los Angeles, Calif.  (Ronaldo Bolaños / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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The investigations into the homicides stay ongoing, and LASD has encouraged anyone with accusation connected the incidents to interaction its Homicide Bureau.