Cops are investigating whether the murder of former NFL player Kevin Johnson is connected to three separate murders of homeless people living Los Angeles’ Compton Creek.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detectives are looking into the possibility that Johnson’s murder may be tied to at three recent homicides at the notorious homeless encampment area along L.A. River near Willowbrook, in south-central.
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Johnson was found stabbed and beaten to death in the camp on January 21, where he’s been living, the New York Post reported.
The 55-year-old’s death was from ”blunt head trauma” and “stab wounds” and was ruled a homicide, aby the L.A. County Medical Examiner.
Now sources within the L.A. County Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau have told ABC7News they’re investigating whether the murder is connected to three others in the area by the same killer.
No suspect has yet been identified.
The first happened in the Compton Creek area on Oct. 5, 2025, when a 52-year-old woman, Michelle Steele, was found shot in the head. She later died in the hospital on Nov. 12, 2025.
The next occurred two months later on December 4 when a homeless man, identified as 52-year-old Octavio Arias, was killed in the same place. According to L.A. county records, Arias cause of death is also listed as head and neck trauma.
Five days after Johnson’s murder on the 21, a man identified as in his 50’s as well, Maura Alfaro, was killed, cause of death was listed as blunt force trauma.
At this point, detectives said they are working hard to try and determine a possible motive for the killings, while admitting there is nothing concrete connecting the four homicides together.
Sources told the outlet that they are looking into possible motives to determine if drugs or gangs are involved, or if they are dealing with someone who is upset with homeless people being in that area.
Investigators said that attempts to get cooperation from the homeless in the encampment have failed County workers have also reached out to the homeless population to get them out of the area and into other housing facilities.
Police are now asking for the public’s help in the investigation.
Anyone with information should call homicide detectives or Crime Stoppers.
