Former NFL and Westchester High lineman Kevin Johnson killed in South L.A. homeless encampment
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Kevin Johnson, a former NFL defensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders, was found dead at a homeless encampment Wednesday, authorities said.
Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department are investigating the death as a possible homicide after the former football player was found with stab wounds and blunt head trauma, according to the county medical examiner.
Johnson, 55, was found dead after deputies received a call of an unconscious man in the 1300 block of East 120th Street in Willowbrook, according to a statement from the Sheriff’s Department. Officials with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were called, and Johnson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza declared for the NFL draft the same week a bobblehead of his memorable touchdown run in the CFP title game was released.
No arrests have been made in connection with the death, and officials are asking anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s Department’s Homicide Bureau.
Johnson was a fourth-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 1993 after playing at Texas Southern University, L.A. Harbor College in Wilmington, and helping Westchester High to the 1987 2-A City Section championship as a junior and to the 3A championship game as a senior.
At Texas Southern, a historically Black university, Johnson played alongside future NFL Hall of Fame defensive lineman Michael Strahan.
Johnson was cut by the Patriots and Minnesota Vikings before catching on with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1995 and 1996, playing in 23 games and registering 43 tackles and seven sacks.
The 6-foot-1, 305-pound defensive tackle nicknamed “Big Kev” returned a fumble 37 yards for a touchdown in a 1995 game against the St. Louis Rams and played in the Eagles’ two playoff games at the end of that season.
Johnson played in 15 games for the Oakland Raiders in 1997, his last NFL season. He played both defensive and offensive line positions in 1998 with Orlando of the Arena Football League, helping the Predators to the Arena Bowl championship. He also played with the L.A. Avengers, another Arena League team.
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