John Beam, the beloved Oakland coach who gained national recognition on Netflix’s Last Chance U, has died.
The 66-year-old passed away on Friday at 10AM, less than 24 hours after being shot in the head in what officials have described as a “very targeted incident," CNN reported.
The suspected shooter, 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr., was arrested around 3AM on Friday morning (November 14).
John Beam was killed. Credit: MediaNews Group/East Bay Times via Getty Images / Getty
Beam's heartbroken loved ones confirmed his death in a statement, which read: “We are devastated that John - our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend - has passed.
"Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love and support from all who cared about him. We are deeply grateful for your continued prayers and ask for privacy during this time," they added.
A legacy of leadership and a shocking end
Beam, who had been a football coach at Laney since 2004 and was promoted to head coach in 2012, spent decades shaping futures.
Twenty of his former players went on to play in the NFL. But his impact stretched far beyond football.
The coach was described by Laney College chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson as “one of the most respected and beloved members of our Laney, Peralta, and Oakland community," CNN reported.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee also paid tribute, sharing on Facebook: “Coach Beam is a giant in Oakland - a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people. For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family."
“This is the second shooting on an Oakland campus in two days, and it is devastating. Schools should be the safest spaces in our city. We need guns off our streets now," she added.
Police call it a ‘very targeted’ shooting
The shooting occurred just after noon on Thursday (November 13) on Laney’s campus.
Beam was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and died the next morning. Police said the suspect, Cedric Irving Jr., was not a Laney student but was frequently seen loitering on campus.
Authorities say the two men knew each other, though not closely, and that Beam was “open to helping everybody in our community, and this is not uncommon for him".
Cedric Irving Jr. was taken into custody. Credit: Oakland Police Department.
According to The New York Post, Irving previously played football at Skyline High School in Oakland, where Beam had coached for 22 years, including 17 as head coach.
Officials obtained pictures of the suspect, tracked him through extensive surveillance footage, and located him at the San Leandro Bay Area Rapid Transit station.
He was taken into custody and gave a statement to the police. Investigators said Irving was on campus “for a specific purpose,” though they have not disclosed what that was. Police also confirmed the shooting was not connected to a robbery.
“The ability to actually track the suspect after he left Laney College was a diligent effort and an amazing, heavy lift to go through hundreds of hours of surveillance footage,” Beere said.
The case will be referred to the district attorney’s office for review, with formal charges for Irving pending.
Our thoughts are with Beam's family and friends.