how did coach beam die

Coach John Beam, the longtime Laney College football coach featured on Netflix’s “Last Chance U,” died after being shot in a targeted attack on the Laney College campus in Oakland, California, in November 2025.

What happened to Coach Beam?

• Beam was shot at the Laney College Fieldhouse on campus around midday.

• He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and a large vigil formed outside while he was being treated.

• He died the following day from his gunshot wounds, as confirmed by Oakland police officials.

Authorities described the incident as a targeted shooting, not a random act of violence.

Who was arrested and why?

• Police arrested a 27‑year‑old man, identified in news reports as Cedric Irving Jr., in connection with the shooting.

• He was found at a nearby transit/bus area with a firearm believed to be the weapon used.

• Prosecutors later charged him with murder in Beam’s death.

• Police have said the suspect and Beam knew each other as acquaintances, but they were not close, and officials have not publicly detailed a clear motive.

Official details and what’s still unclear

• Police and college officials confirmed Beam was shot at the Laney football facility, where he had worked for years as head coach and then athletic director.

• Investigators have publicly emphasized that it appeared to be a targeted attack but have held back specifics about motive while the case moves through the courts.

• As of the latest reports, no full public explanation of “why” the shooting happened (beyond the suspect’s arrest and charges) has been released.

Legacy and community reaction

• Beam was widely regarded as a mentor and pillar of the Oakland football community, with a coaching career spanning more than four decades.

• He gained national recognition when Laney College and its players were featured in the 2020 season of Netflix’s “Last Chance U.”

• After news of his death, tributes poured in from former players (including NFL players), colleagues, local officials, and fans, and a growing memorial appeared near his office at Laney.

TL;DR: Coach John Beam died from gunshot wounds after being shot in a targeted on‑campus attack at Laney College; a 27‑year‑old acquaintance was arrested and charged with his murder, but a detailed public motive has not been fully shared by authorities yet.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.