Laney College, as well as the greater Oakland community, mourn the death of John Beam. The longtime coach and athletics director was shot and killed on Friday in what the police called a “targeted attack” at the campus. Beam was an important figure in Bay Area sports for over four decades. He became well-known after starring in Netflix’s Last Chance U.
Beam, a student at Laney College located in Oakland, was shot Thursday afternoon. He was rushed to the hospital where he suffered a critical injury. The next morning, he succumbed to his injuries. As police searched for the shooting site and viewed security footage, campus was immediately locked down.
Just hours after Beam died, authorities announced an arrest. Oakland Police said that the suspect was identified as Cedric Irvin Jr. by local media outlets. He was arrested without incident. Investigators found a gun that matches the ballistic evidence at the scene. The suspect, while he did not have Beam as his coach, had previously played football in a high school nearby and frequented the campus. Beam was not close to the suspect, but they did know each other.
The Oakland assistant police chief James Beere described the shooting as a “very specific incident,” noting the fact that the suspect seemed to have come on campus “for a particular reason.” However, the motive has not been revealed and the investigation is still ongoing.
Oakland Police Department has announced that former College football coach John Beam, from “Last Chance U”, died.
Details: https://t.co/H6MC3COeFl pic.twitter.com/Fe7bUvyMRK
— On3 (@On3sports 14 November 2025
Frederick Shavies II, a former assistant police chief of Oakland and now the chief of police in Piedmont (California), told reporters during the press conference that Beam had played an important role in both his personal life and professional career.
He said that John was much more than just a coach. He was not just a coach, but he also served as a father to many young men and women from our community. “Our hearts are breaking.”
Beam’s passing sent shockwaves through college athletics. Beam, who began at Laney College as the running backs’ coach in 2004, and became head coach there in 2012 built up one of California’s most respected junior colleges. Laney College won titles in the league, rose up to national rankings and had a constant stream of players going to universities or even to NFL. Beam’s achievements went beyond wins and loses. He was praised for his mentoring of young athletes with challenging backgrounds, and putting education first.
In 2020, his national profile grew dramatically when Laney College featured in Netflix’s Last Chance U Season 5. Beam was able to showcase his demanding, but compassionate coaching approach and commitment to guide players on and off-field in the Netflix series Last Chance U. He became a familiar face to fans of football across the nation.
Beam has been described as an important part of Oakland’s athletics by local leaders and ex-players. He was a pioneer in youth sport and developed strong relationships with families, schools and local programs. He was credited with keeping youths on the right track and providing countless opportunities for athletes.
