The murder of former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Kevin Johnson may be connected to three separate murders of homeless people living in encampments along the Los Angeles River near Willowbrook, sometimes called Compton Creek, sources tell our sister station KABC-TV.

Johnson's body was found at a homeless encampment next to Compton Creek on Jan. 21. His 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.

Johnson was 55 years old.

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According to sources close to the investigation, the string of murders in the Compton Creek area began on Oct. 5, 2025, when a woman, identified as 52-year-old Michelle Steele, was shot in the head. She died in the hospital on Nov. 12, 2025.

Three weeks later, on Dec. 4, a homeless man identified as 52-year-old Octavio Arias was murdered in the same area. According to L.A. County Medical Examiner records, Arias died from head and neck trauma.

The fourth victim, following the murder of Kevin Johnson, was identified as Mauro Alfaro, also in his 50s. According to sources, Alfaro was killed on Jan. 26, and the cause of death was blunt force trauma.

Sources inside the L.A. County Sheriff's Homicide Bureau tell KABC that investigators are now looking into the possibility that all four murders were done by the same killer. A suspect has not been identified.

Detectives are still trying to determine motives in the killings and trying to figure out if the suspect is someone who is upset with homeless people being in that area, or if drugs or gangs may be involved. Sources say there is no concrete evidence linking the cases together.

Anyone with information should call homicide detectives at 323-890-5500.

Investigators believe the former football player had been living at the encampment.

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.