John Beam, the longtime Laney College football coach and “Last Chance U” figure, was shot in what police describe as a targeted attack on the Laney College campus in Oakland in November 2025. The suspect, 27‑year‑old Cedric Irving Jr., was arrested shortly after and charged with murder.

Quick Scoop: What Happened

  • John Beam was shot in the head at the athletics field house on the Laney College campus on Thursday, November 13, 2025, and died the following day in the hospital.
  • Police arrested Cedric Irving Jr. early the next morning at a Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station and recovered the gun believed to have been used.
  • Authorities say the incident was “very targeted,” meaning Beam was specifically sought out rather than hit randomly.
  • Beam was 66, had retired as head coach in 2024, but was still serving as Laney College’s athletic director.

Why Was John Beam Shot? (Reported Motive)

Investigators have said that the suspect knew who Beam was but did not have a close relationship with him. Law‑enforcement sources cited in multiple reports say Irving told police he believed Beam had used witchcraft on him.

  • Several outlets report that Irving was “fixated” on Beam and claimed the coach had performed witchcraft on him.
  • Police publicly emphasized the shooting was targeted but, as of those reports, had not laid out a clear, conventional motive beyond what Irving allegedly told investigators.
  • Officials also said Irving had been seen loitering around the campus before and was not a Laney student and had not played football for Beam.

Because the case is moving through the courts, details about motive are still shaped by early police reports and charging documents, and they may be further clarified or challenged at trial.

Key Facts About the Case

Here is a compact view of the main points:

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Aspect Details
Victim John Beam, 66, Laney College athletic director, former head coach, featured on Netflix’s “Last Chance U”.
Location Laney College campus, Oakland, California, at the athletics field house.
Date of shooting Thursday, November 13, 2025; Beam died the next day.
Suspect Cedric Irving Jr., 27 years old.
Arrest Arrested early Friday at a BART station in San Leandro; firearm recovered.
Charges Murder, with firearm‑use enhancements that could lead to 50 years to life if convicted.
Alleged motive Irving reportedly told police he believed Beam had used witchcraft on him; police describe the attack as targeted.
Relationship Police say the suspect knew Beam but did not have a close relationship, was not a Laney student, and did not play for Beam.

How People Are Talking About It (Forums & Public Reaction)

Even months after the shooting, online discussions and forum threads keep circling a few themes:

  1. Shock at the motive
    Many users are reacting to the reported “witchcraft” explanation with disbelief and concern about the suspect’s mental state. People are asking why someone with possible serious issues could be moving around with a gun on a college campus.
  1. Tributes to Beam’s impact
    Former players, students, and viewers of “Last Chance U” are sharing stories of how Beam pushed them to stay in school, stay out of trouble, and pursue football as a path to stability. You see a lot of posts framing him as a community anchor who worked with at‑risk youth for decades.
  1. Debate on campus and gun safety
    Local officials and police have used the case to talk about gun buyback events and community efforts to reduce violence in Oakland. Forum discussions often connect this shooting to broader worries about safety at schools after multiple incidents in the city around the same time.
  1. Legal process and speculation
    Since the case is ongoing, some commenters speculate about whether mental‑health evaluations will play a role and what kind of sentence Irving might face if convicted. Others push back, saying people should wait for trial evidence rather than relying only on early leaks about motive.

“Targeted or not, it’s terrifying that someone could fixate on a coach who spent his life helping kids and turn that into a reason to shoot him.” – typical sentiment in fan and local forums paraphrased from public discussions.

Context: Who John Beam Was

Understanding who Beam was helps explain why this story hit so hard online.

  • Beam was a legendary high‑school and junior‑college coach in Oakland, known for helping players from tough backgrounds reach college opportunities.
  • He became widely known worldwide after appearing as the head coach of Laney College in the final season of Netflix’s “Last Chance U.”
  • Local leaders described him as a mentor and “lifeline” to thousands of young people over more than 40 years.

His death is being remembered not just as a crime story, but as the loss of someone many saw as central to Oakland’s football and youth‑development culture.

TL;DR:
John Beam was shot in a targeted attack at Laney College in November 2025; the suspect, Cedric Irving Jr., has been charged with murder and allegedly told police he believed Beam had used witchcraft on him. The full legal picture and confirmed motive will be shaped by what comes out in court, but for now, that is the main explanation appearing in public records and news reports.

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