John Beam — Laney College’s athletic director and former head football coach, who gained national relevance for his appearance in Netflix’s docuseries “Last Chance U” — has died after being shot on the school’s campus Thursday, the Oakland Police Department announced at a news conference Friday.
Police said the department believed it was a targeted incident and that the suspect and Beam knew each other. Assistant Chief James Beere said the suspect played football at nearby Skyline High School, but not when Beam coached there, per the Associated Press.
The suspect, who police said was known to “loiter” on campus, was taken into custody. The Oakland Police Department announced the arrest earlier Friday on X.
Beam was shot just before noon Thursday on Laney College’s campus. He was in critical condition that night, according to multiple reports.
Oakland police previously said officers arrived at the community college campus to find a man with gunshot wounds, who was taken to a nearby hospital. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee confirmed Beam as the victim.
According to a statement released Thursday by the Peralta Community College District, the shooting prompted a lockdown at Laney College, located just north of Interstate 880. At the same time, police secured the area and began their investigation.
Lee called the situation “devastating,” noting it was the second shooting on an Oakland campus in a week.
“My thoughts are with Coach John Beam and his loved ones. We are praying for him,” Lee said in a statement on X. “Coach Beam is a giant in Oakland — a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people. For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family.”
The last two days have been incredibly heavy for our city.
My thoughts are with Coach John Beam and his loved ones. We are praying for him.
Coach Beam is a giant in Oakland – a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people. For over 40 years, he has shaped… pic.twitter.com/bqJ0JGmEcF
— Barbara Lee (@BarbaraLee_CA) November 14, 2025
The shooting came one day after a student was wounded at Skyline High School, located about 10 miles from Laney College. Police said the student was in stable condition.
Beam began his Laney career in 2004 as the running backs coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2005. Between his time at Laney and Skyline, Beam produced more than 20 NFL players, including seven who have played in the Super Bowl. Beam rose to national prominence when Laney was featured in the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U” in Season 5, which aired in 2020. The show follows athletes from difficult backgrounds as they navigate their education and sports careers.
Before his time at Laney, Beam spent 22 years at Skyline, including 17 as the school’s football coach, building it into a Bay Area powerhouse. His teams won 11 Silver Bowl titles as the Oakland Section/Oakland Athletic League champions.
The Athletic’s Jimmy Durkin contributed to this story.