John Beam, the deeply respected Laney College athletic director and former head football coach who rose to national fame on Netflix’s Last Chance U, died Friday morning at age 66 — a day after being shot inside the Laney College fieldhouse on Thursday. What began as a terrifying mid-day attack ended with a city in shock and heartbreak.
The shooting occurred just before noon on Thursday at Laney’s downtown campus near Lake Merritt. Oakland police responded and found Beam suffering from gunshot wounds; he was rushed to Highland Hospital in critical condition. Authorities later said this was not a random act — it was “very targeted.”
Early Friday, police arrested 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr. at the San Leandro BART station. Acting Chief James Beere said Irving knew Beam, though they did not have a close relationship, and was on campus “for a specific reason.” A firearm thought to be the weapon used — reportedly a privately manufactured “ghost gun” — was recovered.
At approximately 10 a.m. Friday, Beam succumbed to his injuries. News of his passing drew an outpouring of grief. His family released a statement describing him as a “loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor, and friend.” Piedmont Police Chief Frederick Shavies, who admired Beam since his youth, said Beam was more than a coach — “a father figure to thousands … in our community.”
Beam’s legacy in the Bay Area is immense. He joined Laney College in 2004 as running backs coach, became head coach in 2012, and led the Eagles to a state championship in 2018. Under his mentorship, more than 20 of his players went on to the NFL, including several Super Bowl participants. Even after retiring from coaching in 2024, he remained Laney’s athletic director, shaping the lives of students far beyond the field.
The news of his shooting comes just a day after another school-related shooting in Oakland: a 15-year-old student was wounded at Skyline High School, the very same high school where Beam once coached. For many in the community, the timing makes the tragedy feel painfully symbolic, highlighting long-standing concerns about campus safety.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee mourned Beam as “a giant … a mentor, educator, and lifeline for thousands of young people.” She credited his legacy not just to wins or titles, but to the generations he believed in and refused to abandon. Former players echoed the sentiment: Clinton Pugh, one of them, said simply, “He turned boys into men.”
Now, as Laney College remains under extra security and the community reels, friends, family, and former players are calling for answers — and for justice. Authorities continue to investigate Irving’s motive, and pressure is mounting for accountability in a world where Beam’s life, marked by generosity and belief in others, was cut tragically short.
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