John Beam was shot on campus at Laney College on Thursday. The legendary college football coach was reportedly transported to the hospital in critical condition after taking a bullet to the head.
UPDATE: He was pronounced dead on Friday morning at approximately 10:00 a.m. PST.
Beam was considered one of the most important figures in college football during his coaching career, especially within the Oakland community. He recently moved to a role as the athletic director.
UPDATE: A suspect has been arrested in regard to his death.
Police confirmed on Friday morning that a suspect has been arrested in the shooting. A weapon had been recovered in the arrest that matched the caliber of ballistic evidence recovered at the scene.
Cedric Irving Jr. was arrested around 3:00 a.m. when he was spotted at a bus stop.
Although the suspect new Beam and played football at Skyline High School, he was never coached by John Beam. He was also known to loiter on or around the campus of Laney College even though he was not a student at the school.
Police said the incident was not the result of a robbery. They described it as a “targeted” incident but a motive has not yet been identified.
“I’m grateful to the Oakland Police Department and our dedicated law enforcement partners for their swift work in making an arrest in the shooting of Coach Beam,” said Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee. “This arrest is a testament to the effective collaboration and dedication of our law enforcement community.”
Tragically, Oakland police chief Floyd Mitchell also said at a news conference on Friday that Beam did not survive the gunshot wound. He was declared dead on Friday morning.
Who is John Beam?
John Beam began coaching in 1979 at a high school in San Diego. He later made his way north to Oakland Skyline High School as the defensive coordinator in 1982 and received a promotion to head coach in 1987.
Beam went 160-33-3, won 15 league championships, 11 section championships and was named as the California State Coach of the Year in 1997. No program in Northern California produced more Division-I players during his tenure.
However, the 66-year-old is best known for his incredible run at Laney College. His time with the program was documented on the Netflix series ‘Last Chance U’ in 2020.
John Beam won two league titles, won 60% of his games and reached four bowl games. Laney sent multiple players to the NFL, including seven who participated in the Super Bowl.
Although his on-field accomplishments are impressive, Beam’s impact on his players and the community far exceeds wins and losses. He is a pillar of the Oakland community.
A shooting at Laney College leaves a lot of unknowns.
Laney College was placed on lockdown Thursday after John Beam was shot on campus. The shooter remains at large. Local police gave the following update:
Legendary coach and current Laney College Athletic Director John Beam was shot Thursday afternoon on campus in Oakland, according to sources.
— ABC7 News (@abc7newsbayarea) November 13, 2025
Beam became a fan favorite on the popular Netflix show "Last Chance U" which followed Laney's football team through its season.… pic.twitter.com/sc67lp9gke
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Beam was believed to be alive when taken to Highland Hospital in an ambulance. The shooting occurred inside the fieldhouse.
Oakland police declined to provide an update on his condition at the time.
“Out of respect for the family I’m not going to provide any updates with regards to the victim,” said acting Police Chief James Beere on Thursday evening.
However, former Skyline football player Benjie Ross told the Chronicle, “it’s critical.” Ray Bobbitt, a community leader and founding member of the African-American Sports Entertainment Group, said that Beam was shot in the head.
These details are not yet confirmed by the authorities. This article will be updated.