Laney College athletic director and former football coach John Beam died Friday, a day after being shot on campus. Beam, 66, was found suffering from gunshot wounds on Thursday morning and was transported to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Oakland police arrested 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr. early Friday morning in connection with the shooting.
Irving, a former Skyline High School football player who did not play under Beam, knew Beam but they were not close. Police stated the incident was targeted and not a robbery, and that Irving was on campus for a specific, undisclosed reason.
Beam coached football in Oakland for over four decades, first at Skyline High School where he achieved a record of 160-33-3 with four undefeated seasons, and then at Laney College starting in 2004. He became head coach at Laney in 2012 and led the Eagles to a championship in 2018.
He was also featured in the 2020 Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U” for his role as a mentor and father figure to his players. Beam’s family expressed their devastation and gratitude for the outpouring of support.
Piedmont Police Chief Frederick Shavies, speaking on behalf of the family, described Beam as a father figure to thousands and highlighted his indelible impact on the community. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee also issued a statement, emphasizing Beam's dedication to mentoring young people and calling for an end to gun violence in the community to honor his memory.
The article also briefly notes a separate shooting incident at Skyline High School that occurred the day before Beam was shot, in which a student was injured and two minors were arrested.
