John Beam, a revered figure in the world of football coaching, has passed away at 66 following a tragic shooting incident on a college campus in Oakland.
Beam gained widespread recognition through his appearance in the 2020 Netflix series, ‘Last Chance U,’ which highlighted his role at Laney College, where he was serving as an athletic director. Reports indicate that on Thursday, Beam was shot in the head on the very campus where he worked.
After the incident, Beam was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Meanwhile, police apprehended a suspect who had fled the scene by early Friday morning. It is believed that the suspect and Beam were acquainted.
Just a day after the unfortunate event, it was confirmed by authorities that Beam succumbed to his injuries around 10 a.m. on Friday, as reported by ABC7 News.
Beam leaves behind his wife, two daughters, and granddaughters, who mourn his loss.
With a career spanning over four decades, Beam was a beloved and influential figure in college sports, notably at Laney College, which was featured on ‘Last Chance U’ on Netflix.
Legendary football coach John Beam has died at the age of 66 after being shot in Oakland
Beam was shot while on campus at Laney College, where he worked as the athletic director and starred in the 2020 Netflix series ‘Last Chance U’ (pictured)
He began his coaching career as an offensive line coach at Serra High School in San Diego, helping them reach the playoffs for the first time in school history.
After moving Oakland, Beam joined Skyline High School as a defensive coordinator in 1982, before being promoted to head coach five years later. He enjoyed his most successful period at Skyline after winning 15 championships and overseeing four undefeated seasons.
Beam initially joined Laney College as a running backs coach in 2004 and 2005 and was later promoted to offensive coordinator. In that role, he led an explosive offense to three conference championships and five straight bowl game appearances.
In 2012 the esteemed figure stepped up to become head coach, before guiding the team to two league titles and four bowl games.
It is believed the shooting took place at the fieldhouse on campus at East 8th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Officers initially responded to the incident as if it there was an active shooter – with the college placed on lockdown – before they later determined that was not the case.
Authorities have confirmed that a 27-year-old suspect was taken into custody early Friday morning at around 3am. He is said to have been in possession of a gun after being apprehended at San Leandro BART station.
He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, before police took a suspect into custody Friday
Beam passed away in hospital at around 10am on Friday, it has been announced by authorities
The Laney College icon spent over 40 years as a successful football coach for various schools
‘This was a very targeted incident,’ Assistant Chief James Beere said during a Friday press conference.
Beere added that the suspect and Beam knew each other and although they weren’t close, the athletic director was ‘open to helping everybody in our community.’
He did not elaborate on how they knew each other or why the suspect, who is said to have played football at Skyline High School but not when Beam worked there, was on campus on Thursday.
The suspect was taken into custody without any altercation. Police say he was not a Laney College student but was known to loiter on campus.
Tributes have poured in for Beam after the tragic news, with Piedmont Police Chief Frederick Shavies calling him an ‘absolutely incredible human being.’
‘Our hearts are aching,’ Shavies added at Friday’s news conference.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said: ‘Coach’s Beam’s legacy isn’t measured in championships or statistics. 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.
Police believe Beam knew the suspect, who was apprehended early Friday at around 3am
‘He gave Oakland’s youth their best chance, and he never stopped fighting for them.’
Lee added: ‘Gun violence has stolen the life of a man who dedicated himself to building up the young people of this city.’
One high-profile player Beam coached at Laney College was CJ Anderson, who went on to carve out a memorable NFL career for himself after playing under him in 2009.
The former Broncos running back, who won a Super Bowl in Denver, took to social media earlier on Friday to urge his old coach to ‘keep fighting’.
Anderson posted: ‘Keep fighting. Keep praying Jesus is King always put your hands on Beam please!!!!’
