In the fall of 2023, Laney coach John Beam speaks with Oakland Section commissioner Franky Navarro before the Silver Bowl, the annual McClymonds vs Oakland Tech game and the Oakland Athletic League football championship game at McClymonds High School in Oakland. Beam was shot on Thursday and has died at the age of 66. (Joseph Dycus/Bay Area News Group)
John Beam, ‘Last Chance U’ Coach, Dies After Shooting at Laney College
John Beam, the beloved Bay Area football coach featured in Netflix’s “Last Chance U,” has died after being shot this week on the campus of Laney College in Oakland, police and college officials said. Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell announced the shooting and later confirmed an arrest had been made in connection with the incident.
Shooting, Arrest and Hospitalization
The shooting occurred around midday Thursday at Laney College’s fieldhouse, where athletic training facilities are located. Authorities announced an arrest on Friday, saying little else about the suspect or the circumstances. Beam was taken to Highland Hospital in Oakland in critical condition. A hospital spokesperson declined to provide further details. Peralta Community College District and Laney College officials said the campus was placed on lockdown as police secured the area and launched an investigation.
A Lifelong Coach and Mentor
Beam was more than a coach to many in Oakland. He starred in the 2020 season of the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U,” which follows community college athletes attempting to turn their lives around. Beam served more than four decades coaching at the junior college and high school levels and remained Laney College’s athletic director after retiring as head football coach last year.
- He’s widely revered in the Bay Area for shaping young people “on and off the field.”
- Laney and the Peralta district “devastated” and “stunned” that such violence touched their campus.
Campus Response and Community Reaction
Laney College reopened Friday after the lockdown, offering mental health and counseling services to students and staff. Chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson expressed heartbreak and said the Peralta community was deeply concerned for Beam’s well-being. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee calls Beam “a giant” and “a lifeline for thousands of young people,” adding that the city is in shock alongside his family.
Context: A City Grappling with School Violence
The shooting at Laney was the second school shooting in Oakland within two days. On Wednesday, a juvenile’s shot at Skyline High School and two arrests made. That juvenile’s in the hospital in stable condition. Mayor Lee said the incidents were devastating and warned that “schools should be the safest spaces in our city,” arguing for action to remove guns from the streets.
Legacy and Next Steps
Beam’s death marks a painful loss for Laney College, the Peralta district, and the Bay Area football community. Officials continue their investigation into the shooting and have made an arrest. They have not released additional details. The campus has mobilized counseling resources as students and staff process the tragedy.
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