A cherished figure in college football, John Beam, who gained fame through the Netflix series “Last Chance U,” tragically passed away on Friday, following a shooting incident at Laney College where he served as athletic director.
John Beam, aged 66, suffered a gunshot wound late Thursday morning at the Laney College Fieldhouse, according to reports from KNTV. He succumbed to his injuries around 10 a.m. the following day.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of John Beam, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor, and friend,” his family shared in a heartfelt statement. “The overwhelming love and support from those who knew him bring comfort during this difficult time. We deeply appreciate your prayers, well wishes, and thoughts. We kindly request privacy as we navigate this painful moment.”
Oakland Police Assistant Chief James Beere announced at a Friday news conference that Cedric Irving Jr., age 27, had been apprehended in connection with the shooting, as reported by The Patch. Authorities utilized surveillance footage from the college and surrounding areas to track Irving, ultimately leading to his arrest by a sheriff’s deputy at the San Leandro BART station.
Police noted that Irving was known to frequent the campus and had a history of playing football at Skyline High School, where Beam had previously coached, although their tenures did not overlap.
While Irving was not enrolled at Laney College, Assistant Chief Beere mentioned that he was on campus for a particular reason, though specifics were not disclosed.
“This was a very targeted incident, and I will say that Coach Beam, although they did not have a close relationship, was open to helping everybody in our community,” Beere said, according to KNTV.
Beam began coaching at Laney, a junior college, as a running back coach in 2004 and became head coach in 2012. According to his bio on the school website, 20 0f his players have gone on to the NFL.
It was his work there that led to the Laney College Eagles’ featured role in the 2020 season of “Last Chance U,” a series that focused on athletes at junior colleges as they worked to turn their lives around, The Associated Press said. The series focused on Beam’s tendency to gamble on players nobody wanted, then working with those players to build teams that regular competed for league championships.
“Coach Beam’s legacy isn’t measured in championships or statistics,” Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said in a statement. “It’s measured in the thousands of young people he believed in, mentored, and refused to abandon, including my nephew, while at Skyline High School. He gave Oakland’s youth their best chance, and he never stopped fighting for them.”
