Former Laney Coach John Beam Dies After Campus Shooting; Suspect Arrested
John Beam, the longtime head football coach and athletic director at Laney College, died after being shot in the head on the college campus in Oakland, California. The shooting occurred on Thursday, Nov. 13; Beam, 66, died the following day, authorities said.
Police say the attack was targeted. Oakland investigators later arrested 27-year-old Cedric Irving in connection with the fatal shooting, Homicide Commander Gloria Beltran said. An Alameda County sheriff's deputy detained Irving at a BART station after observing someone who matched the suspect description, and Irving is being held in the Alameda County jail on suspicion of murder, according to jail records.
"This was a very targeted incident," said Oakland police Assistant Chief James Beere. He added that investigators believe Irving knew Beam but that the two "did not have a relationship." Beere noted Beam's reputation for helping members of the community, even those he did not know closely.
Police said Irving was not a student at Laney College but had been reportedly seen loitering near the campus. Beere also said Irving had played football at Skyline High School, though not during Beam's tenure there. The case will be presented to the district attorney's office for possible charging, the Oakland Police Department said.
Beam coached at Laney until 2024 and previously served as a coach at Skyline High School. He and his Laney team were featured in 2020 on the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U, which follows community college athletes seeking a path to professional careers.
Mayor Barbara Lee issued a statement honoring Beam's impact: "Coach Beam is a giant in Oakland — a mentor, an educator and a lifeline for thousands of young people. For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family."
Next steps: Authorities say the investigation remains active and evidence will be forwarded to the Alameda County district attorney for review of potential charges. As with all ongoing criminal investigations, arrests are allegations and the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
