John Beam: “Last Chance U” Coach Shot Dead in Tragic Campus Shooting
Oakland, CA — John Beam, the beloved and longtime football coach-turned athletic director at Laney College and a familiar face from Netflix’s Last Chance U, has died after being shot in a targeted attack on his college campus.
A Respected Mentor and Community Pillar
Beam, aged 66, began his coaching career in 1979 and rose to prominence over more than four decades of service, first at Skyline High School in Oakland and later at Laney College. At Skyline, he built a legacy of consistent success, securing 15 league titles and 11 section championships.
In 2004, he joined Laney College as a running backs coach. By 2012, he had become the head coach. Under his leadership, the Laney Eagles won multiple league titles, and in 2018, he guided them to a California Community College Athletic Association Championship. Over the years, more than 20 of his players advanced to the NFL, a testament to his eye for talent and his belief in second chances.
His impact extended far beyond the field. Many described Beam as a father figure, someone who believed in his young athletes when few others did.
The Shooting: What Happened
On Thursday, November 13, 2025, a deadly shooting occurred inside Laney College’s field house. Police responded just before noon and found Beam suffering from a gunshot wound. He was immediately rushed to Highland Hospital in critical condition.
Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries the next morning, on Friday, November 14, at approximately 10 a.m..
Arrest and Investigation
Authorities arrested Cedric Irving Jr., a 27-year-old Oakland resident, in connection with the shooting. According to police, Beam and Irving knew each other, though they were not very close. Irving reportedly had played football in high school at Skyline, but not under Beam’s coaching.
Oakland’s Assistant Police Chief James Beere called the incident “very targeted” and said the suspect came to campus with a specific, though undisclosed, purpose.
Legacy and Reaction
Across Oakland and beyond, the news of Beam’s death has sent shockwaves. Mayor Barbara Lee described him as a “giant in Oakland,” noting that for over 40 years, Beam shaped leaders not just on the football field, but off it too.
Former players and community members rallied, mourning the loss of someone who had given so much. During a press conference, Piedmont Police Chief Frederick Shavies, himself mentored by Beam, emotionally called him “an absolutely incredible human being … more than a coach — a father figure.”
Beam’s family released a statement expressing their devastation:
“We are devastated that John, being our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend has passed … Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love and support.”
The Broader Context: Gun Violence on Campus
This tragic event comes amid growing concerns over gun violence in educational institutions. Notably, Beam’s shooting was the second campus shooting in Oakland in just two days.
Many community leaders and citizens have renewed calls for stronger gun control, especially on school grounds.
Final Thoughts: The Loss of a Mentor
John Beam’s story — from the locker room to Last Chance U, and now in his tragic death — is a compelling chapter in the narrative of redemption, mentorship, and community. He wasn’t just a coach; he was a lifeline for countless young people who believed they had nowhere else to turn.
His legacy will live on in every player he inspired, every student he guided, and every life he touched. His death is not just a loss for Laney College or the football world, but for a community that looked up to him as a moral and emotional anchor.
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