Oakland, CA – John Beam, the celebrated football coach and athletic director at Laney College, known for his appearance on Netflix's "Last Chance U," has died after being shot on the Laney College campus. The Oakland Police Department announced Beam's death on Friday, a day after the shooting. He was 66 years old.
According to police, the shooting occurred on Thursday before noon at the Laney College field house. Officers arrived on the scene to find Beam suffering from gunshot wounds. He was immediately transported to Highland Hospital, where he remained in critical condition until he was pronounced dead around 10 a.m. Friday.
Oakland Police have arrested 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr. in connection with the shooting. Irving was apprehended early Friday morning at the San Leandro BART station. Authorities believe that Beam was specifically targeted, and that Irving knew Beam. However, Assistant Chief James Beere stated that the two were not close, though Beam was generally "open to helping everybody in our community". While the exact motive remains unclear, Beere indicated that the suspect went to the campus with a "specific reason". Sources indicate that Irving had played football at Skyline High School, where Beam had previously coached, though their time at the school did not overlap. Police have recovered a firearm and credited technology, including cameras on campus and public transit, with aiding in the arrest.
Beam's death has sent shockwaves through the Oakland community and the wider world of college football. A vigil was held outside the hospital as people gathered to pray for Beam. He was remembered as someone who always tried to help others.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee described Beam as "a giant in Oakland — a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people". She also noted the tragic proximity of this incident to another shooting at Oakland's Skyline High School the previous day, calling it "the second shooting on an Oakland campus in two days". A student was shot at Skyline High School on Wednesday and is in stable condition; two juveniles have been arrested in connection with that incident.
John Beam had a long and impactful career in Bay Area athletics. Before joining Laney College in 2004 as a running backs coach, he coached at Skyline High School for many years, achieving a record of 160-33-3 and winning 15 league championships. He became head coach at Laney in 2012 and led the team to a California Community College State Championship in 2018. Beam gained national prominence as the coach of the Laney College Eagles in the fifth season of Netflix's "Last Chance U" in 2020. Twenty of his players went on to the NFL.
Beam's family released a statement, saying, "We are devastated that John Beam, our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend, has passed". "Our hearts are full from the outpouring of support... we are deeply grateful for your continued prayers, well wishes and thoughts".
