WILLOWBROOK, Calif. -- The murder of former Oakland Raiders 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. 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.
"This is just a great example of the work we wanted our Neighborhood Quality of Life Unit to be doing," Mayor Matt Mahan said. "In this case, the team stumbled upon a cache of stolen equipment," Mahan said. "It's not a crime to be homeless, but we expect people to accept shelter, housing services when they're available. And when they're not, to at least be abiding by our basic laws."
In the first incident, a man identified as a frequently seen transient in the area was seen standing next to the railroad tracks in the area of 37th Avenue and East 9th Street when he was struck and killed by an Amtrak train at around 9:40 am Tuesday. As the Chronicle reports, city workers had been in the area clearing a homeless encampment, but the man who died was not a resident of that encampment. He was, however, reportedly known to stay in encampments nearby.
He set up camp, and as other followed suit, began to build a little community: Toward one corner of the 15,000-square foot lot, Gilbert erected a pickleball net he said he found near Wilshire Boulevard. Behind the net, where people volley from time to time, is a small garden of tomatoes, cannabis and onions that he tends to. There are at least two barbecues, one propane, one charcoal.
Philipos Melaku-Bello, a volunteer who has manned the vigil for years, told The Associated Press that the Park Police removed it early Sunday morning. He said officials justified the removal by mislabeling the memorial as a shelter. The difference between an encampment and a vigil is that an encampment is where homeless people live, Melaku-Bello said. As you can see, I don't have a bed. I have signs and it is covered by the First Amendment right to freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
When you enter San Francisco, you should see safe, clean streets. Too often, our freeway on and off ramps have fallen short. Thanks to a new agreement with Caltrans, the City now has the authority to clean state highway sections and clear encampments. This will help us connect pic.twitter.com/fnj9528jBh Daniel Lurie (@DanielLurie) August 27, 2025 The arrangement was reportedly signed on Wednesday, and per KGO, city workers started clearing areas on Thursday morning.
