NEED TO KNOW
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Former NFL defensive tackle Kevin Johnson was found dead at a homeless encampment in Los Angeles on January 21, according to multiple reports.
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Johnson’s body was discovered with stab wounds and head trauma and his death is being investigated as a homicide.
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Friends of Johnson, who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders, described him as a “fun-loving” guy.
Kevin Johnson, former defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles and Oakland Raiders, was found dead in Los Angeles, according to multiple reports.
Johnson, who was 55 years old, was found on Wednesday, January 21, according to Newsweek and Fox29.
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The Los Angeles County coroner reportedly said the former NFL player died as a result of blunt force stab wounds and head trauma, media reported.
George Gojkovich/Getty
Kevin Johnson on October 8, 1995
Johnson’s body was reportedly discovered at a homeless encampment in the Willowbrook area near south Los Angeles. Newsweek said his death is being investigated as a homicide.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Lt. Steve De Jong told Newsweek: “Unfortunately, it appears he was homeless… It appears he was probably living there.”
When contacted by PEOPLE for comment, the Los Angeles County sheriff said Johnson’s death was an active investigation and they had no additional information to share at this time.
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According to ABC7, authorities are asking witnesses to come forward with more information.
Friends of the former NFL player spoke with ABC 7 on Thursday, January 22, and revealed that Johnson suffered health problems later in his life.
“He was my best friend. I was the best man at his wedding,” Bruce Todd told ABC7, calling Johnson a “great guy” who was “fun-loving.”
“He’s going to be missed by the community,” Todd added.
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Johnson’s friends also told the outlet that he may have been suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a condition caused by repeated head injuries that is often found in the brains of people who play football or other contact sports, according to the Mayo Clinic. The disease can only be diagnosed after death.
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Johnson was a native of Los Angeles. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in 1993. After finishing his NFL career, he played in the Arena Football League with the Orlando Predators and Los Angeles Avengers.
Read the original article on People