Longtime JUCO Coach John Beam Dies After Campus Shooting

Former Laney College athletic director and ‘Last Chance U’ star John Beam tragically passed away after being shot on campus in Oakland. The Oakland Police Department confirmed this targeted shooting and have apprehended a suspect in connection with the incident.

John Beam, a well-known figure in the popular Netflix series “Last Chance U,” was targeted in the attack, according to Assistant Police Chief James Beere. The suspect, identified as Cedric Irving Jr., 27, had ties to Skyline High School, where Beam previously coached. Despite not playing under Beam’s coaching tenure, the suspect and Beam were acquainted.

This devastating event comes on the heels of another shooting incident at Skyline High School just two days prior, where a student was injured.

Mayor Barbara Lee expressed her condolences, reflecting on Beam’s significant impact on the Oakland community. Beam was heavily involved in shaping the lives of young individuals, both on and off the playing field, for over four decades.

At 66 years old, Beam’s legacy will live on through the players and students whose lives he touched throughout his career. The “Last Chance U” family mourns the loss of a remarkable mentor and educator in the world of college football.