John Beam, a 66-year-old man, was shot at the Laney College Fieldhouse in Oakland, California, on Thursday, November 13, 2025. The shooting, which occurred around noon, prompted an immediate campus lockdown as police responded to the scene. Officers arrived to find Beam with critical injuries, and he was rushed to Highland Hospital for emergency medical treatment.
Despite the efforts of medical staff, John Beam succumbed to his gunshot wound and passed away the following morning, on November 14, 2025. The news of his death sent shockwaves through the community, where he was a beloved and respected figure.
The investigation into the shooting quickly identified a suspect, Cedric Irving Jr., a 27-year-old alumnus of Skyline High School, where Beam had previously coached. An urgent search for Irving culminated in his arrest in the early hours of Friday morning at the San Leandro BART station. Police stated that Irving was armed at the time of his apprehension. Authorities have described the shooting as a 'very targeted incident,' revealing that Beam and Irving were acquainted, though not close. The specific motive for the attack has not been released, but police have indicated that the suspect came to the campus for a 'specific reason.' The arrest was aided by surveillance footage from the college, public transit, and private residences.
Tragically, the day before he was fatally shot, John Beam had publicly voiced his concerns about the state of security at Laney College's campuses. During a meeting, he had spoken about thefts at the field house and advocated for the reinstatement of armed security guards, questioning whether the current unarmed security force was sufficient. Beam, who gained national recognition from his appearance on the Netflix series 'Last Chance U,' had a long and celebrated career, coaching for 45 years and positively impacting the lives of thousands of student-athletes, with more than 30 going on to play in the NFL. He retired from coaching in 2024 but remained at Laney College as the Director of Athletics. The community mourned his loss, with many gathering for a vigil outside the hospital to honor a man remembered as a mentor and a pillar of the Oakland sports community.
