John Beam, the legendary Bay Area football coach and former athletic director of Laney College, died Friday morning after being shot inside the campus’s Field House — a devastating act that has shaken the Oakland community and reignited debates over gun violence in public spaces. Beam, 60–70, was found critically injured shortly after 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, November 13, 2025, and succumbed to his wounds at 10:00 a.m. the following day. The suspect, Cedric Irving Junior, 27, was arrested early Friday at the San Leandro BART station after police traced the crime through surveillance footage. A ghost gun recovered from Irving matched the caliber of rounds found at the scene, sealing his connection to the killing.
A Coach Who Never Walked Away
Beam wasn’t just a coach — he was a fixture. For over four decades, he shaped the lives of young men in Oakland’s most underserved neighborhoods, often taking in kids no one else would. His work at Laney College became nationally known when Netflix’s Last Chance U followed the school’s football program in 2016. The documentary didn’t just spotlight wins and losses — it showed Beam’s quiet persistence, his midnight phone calls to troubled players, his insistence that football was never just about football.
He retired as athletic director in 2024, but he never left campus. Colleagues say he still showed up every day — checking on equipment, chatting with students, offering rides home. "He didn’t retire," said Piedmont Police Chief Frederick Shavies during Friday’s press briefing. "He just stopped wearing the headset. The heart never stopped."
The Shooting and the Suspect
The attack happened around lunchtime inside the Laney Field House, a place Beam knew better than anyone. No alarms were triggered. No witnesses came forward immediately. But surveillance footage showed a lone figure entering the building, approaching Beam at his desk, and firing once before walking out calmly. Officers say the shot was deliberate — not random, not chaotic. "This was a very targeted incident," said Assistant Chief James Beere of the Oakland Police Department. "They knew each other. Not close. But Beam? He was open to helping everybody in our community."
Irving, who attended Skyline High School after Beam’s tenure there, had no prior police record. He wasn’t a student at Laney. He wasn’t even on campus regularly. But he’d been seen loitering near the athletic complex for weeks. Staff noticed him — sometimes sitting on the bleachers, sometimes just watching practice. No one reported him. No one knew why.
When Irving was arrested at 3:15 a.m. Friday, he offered no resistance. His pockets held the ghost gun — unregistered, no serial number — and a crumpled note with a single sentence: "You promised me a chance. You never gave it."
Community in Mourning
By Friday afternoon, flowers and candles lined the entrance to the Field House. Students who never played under Beam hugged each other in the parking lot. One freshman, 19-year-old Malik Rivers, told KTVU: "I didn’t even know his name until yesterday. But every time I was late to class, he’d be there with a coffee and say, ‘You got time, son. Don’t waste it.’"
Mayor of Oakland released a statement calling Beam "a man who never stopped fighting for our kids," and local churches announced memorial services for Sunday. But grief is mixed with fury. "This is the gun violence crisis playing out in real time," said a KTVU reporter, paraphrasing a city official. "Where are our young people and staff supposed to feel safe? The answer used to be here. Now, we don’t know."
What Happens Next
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing evidence as of Saturday, November 15, 2025, with charges expected within 72 hours. Irving remains in custody at the Alameda County Main Jail without bail. Prosecutors will determine whether to pursue first-degree murder, especially given the premeditated nature of the attack and the recovered note.
Meanwhile, Laney College has temporarily closed the Field House. Campus security is being overhauled. A task force — including parents, alumni, and former players — is being formed to review safety protocols. "We can’t let this be the end of his legacy," said former player and current Oakland school board member Terrell Johnson. "We have to turn this pain into protection."
A Legacy That Outlives the Gun
Beam’s impact stretches beyond stats and wins. He helped send more than 120 students to four-year colleges. He coached two NFL draft picks. He started a scholarship fund in 2018 — still active — that’s paid for 37 tuition bills. His name is carved into a bench outside the Field House, donated anonymously years ago. The plaque reads: "He believed before they did."
On Friday, someone left a single football on that bench. No note. Just the ball, still slightly scuffed from practice. Someone — maybe a kid who finally got his chance — left it there because that’s what Beam did. He gave people a ball. And then he made them believe they could catch it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was John Beam, and why was he so influential?
John Beam was a 40+ year football coach and former athletic director at Laney College in Oakland, known for mentoring at-risk youth. Featured in Netflix’s Last Chance U, he helped over 120 students earn college scholarships and was deeply trusted by students who had nowhere else to turn. His influence came not from titles, but from showing up — day after day — when no one else would.
Why was Cedric Irving Junior considered a target, and what’s the motive?
Oakland Police confirmed the shooting was targeted, and Irving and Beam had some prior connection — though not as a former player or student. Irving attended Skyline High after Beam’s tenure, and had been seen loitering on campus for weeks. A note recovered with the weapon suggests Irving felt betrayed by Beam’s failure to offer him a chance, but the exact nature of their interaction remains unclear. Authorities are still investigating whether it was a personal grievance or a distorted sense of rejection.
What is a "ghost gun," and why is it significant here?
A ghost gun is an unregistered, privately assembled firearm with no serial number, making it nearly impossible to trace. The weapon recovered from Irving matched the caliber of casings at the crime scene — a key piece of forensic evidence. Ghost guns are increasingly common in California gun violence cases, especially among individuals with no criminal history. Their accessibility has complicated law enforcement efforts to prevent shootings like this one.
How has the community responded to Beam’s death?
The response has been overwhelmingly mournful and mobilizing. Students, alumni, and city leaders have gathered at Laney College to honor Beam with candles and footballs left on his bench. A memorial service is planned for Sunday, and a new campus safety task force — including former players and parents — is being formed. Many are calling for expanded mental health resources and stricter access controls on school grounds, especially for non-students loitering on campus.
Will Laney College’s football program continue?
Yes. Interim athletic director Dr. Lisa Nguyen confirmed the team will play its next game as scheduled. Players voted unanimously to wear Beam’s jersey number — 44 — on their helmets. "He didn’t just teach us how to block and tackle," said linebacker Jamal Carter. "He taught us how to live. We’re not quitting. We’re playing for him now."
What does this say about gun violence in educational spaces?
This tragedy underscores how gun violence no longer respects boundaries — not even campuses once seen as sanctuaries. Laney College, like many community colleges, has open access policies to serve the public. But Beam’s killing shows how easily those policies can be exploited. Experts are now urging lawmakers to reconsider security protocols at public educational institutions, especially where vulnerable populations — students, coaches, staff — are most exposed.
