Oakland, California – John Beam, a football coach known for his appearance on the Netflix docuseries Last Chance U, died Thursday after being shot on the Laney College campus.He was 66 years old.
Oakland police arrested Cedric Irving Jr. in connection with the shooting. Authorities announced the arrest Friday but have not disclosed a motive. Police stated Irving Jr. knew Beam but did not have a relationship with him, though Beam “was open to helping everybody in this community.” Irving Jr., who is not a Laney College student but frequented the campus, allegedly went to the campus for a “specific reason” that police have not revealed. He was apprehended overnight at a local bus stop and was found carrying a gun.
Beam served as Laney College’s athletics director at the time of his death. He previously coached at Skyline High School for 16 years. The suspect was once a student at Skyline High, but not during Beam’s tenure there.
The shooting occurred just days after a separate incident at Skyline High School on Wednesday, where one student was injured. A group of Skyline students who experienced a lockdown during Wednesday’s shooting were visiting Laney College on Thursday and were again forced to shelter in place.
Last Chance U, which aired in 2020, documented Beam and the Laney Eagles football team, highlighting their challenges and successes.
Tributes have been pouring in for Beam, including from Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee, who called him a “giant in Oakland – a mentor, an educator and a lifeline for thousands of young people.” NFL players Rejzohn Wright of the New Orleans Saints and Nahshon Wright of the Chicago Bears, both former players under Beam, also shared tributes online.
