John Beam, a well-known football coach in the Oakland area and a figure featured on the Netflix series Last Chance U, has died after being shot on the campus of Laney College. Beam, 66, was caught in gunfire on Thursday and was rushed to a local hospital. Despite efforts to save him, he passed away on Friday afternoon, according to the Oakland Police Department.
The police described the shooting as a "targeted situation" and said the person arrested had come to the campus with a specific purpose. The suspect was later caught in a nearby town, TMZ Sports reported.
Beam’s family shared a heartfelt statement expressing their sorrow. They remembered him as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor, and friend. They thanked everyone who showed support and asked for continued thoughts and prayers.
After a long coaching career that began as an assistant, Beam became Laney’s head football coach in 2012. He later stepped away from coaching to take on the role of Laney’s athletic director. Many people recognized him from the fifth season of Last Chance U, which highlighted the pressures of coaching football at Laney and showed the many players he helped reach the NFL.
Beam’s impact went beyond the game. He was a fixture in the Oakland community and a mentor to countless young athletes. His loss is deeply felt by those who knew him and by the community he served for so many years.
