Laney College athletic director John Beam, a towering figure in Oakland football and star of Netflix’s “Last Chance U,” died Friday, Nov. 14, after he was shot inside the campus fieldhouse on Nov. 13. The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting a suspect has been arrested and confessed to the attack.
Authorities confirmed the shooter, described earlier as a man in dark clothing and a black hoodie, was taken into custody late Thursday after admitting involvement in the shooting. The 16,000-student campus was locked down for an hour before classes were canceled for the day; they are expected to resume on Nov. 14.
The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting the suspected shooter was identified as Cedric Irving Jr., 27, of Oakland, according to a person familiar with the investigation. Irving played sports at Oakland’s Skyline High School, though it was not immediately clear whether he also played football at Laney College. Beam also coached football at Skyline before leaving the school in 2004.
Here’s what to know about the shooting death of John Beam, 66, who was widely celebrated for his decades-long coaching legacy in the Bay Area and Netflix fame.
From Netflix fame to Oakland tragedy
Beam, 66, was no stranger to the spotlight. He was featured in the final season of Netflix’s docuseries “Last Chance U” in 2020, which chronicled Laney’s 2019 football season following its 2018 junior college national championship.
The eight-part series spotlighted junior college athletes fighting for second chances through sports. Beam’s leadership and tough-love approach became a defining element of the show, cementing his reputation as a mentor who shaped lives beyond the gridiron.
After more than 40 years coaching in Oakland, Beam retired as Laney’s head coach in 2024 to focus on his role as athletic director. His legacy includes transforming Skyline High School into a powerhouse, with 15 league titles, 11 section championships, and four undefeated seasons, before he joined Laney in 2004.
Community rallies around a beloved coach
The Peralta Community College District called the shooting “stunning and heartbreaking.”
“John Beam is a renowned coach, teacher, mentor, and leader whose impact extends far beyond athletics,” spokesperson Mark Johnson said in a statement.
Former players, including NFL cornerbacks Rejzohn Wright (New Orleans Saints) and Nashon Wright (Chicago Bears), shared emotional tributes on social media. Rejzohn posted a photo with Beam captioned: “You mean the world to me.”
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee echoed the grief, calling Beam “a giant in Oakland” and noting this was the second school shooting in two days.
Two suspects were arrested following a shooting that left one student injured at Skyline High School, where Beam once coached its football teams to 15 league championships, 11 section championships, and four undefeated seasons before coming to Laney as an assistant football coach in 2004.
”Schools should be the safest spaces in our city,” Lee said. “We need guns off our streets now.”
(This story was updated with new information.)
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Former ‘Last Chance U’ coach John Beam killed; suspect arrested
Reporting by Terry Collins, Christopher Cann and James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
