Legendary former soccer coach John Beam died on Friday morning after he was shot on the Laney College campus in Oakland, California, on Thursday, the Oakland Police Division mentioned, as authorities introduced a suspect’s arrest.
Beam, featured in Netflix’s “Final Likelihood U,” is a soccer legend within the Bay Space and had coached the game for over 40 years earlier than turning into solely the varsity’s athletic director final 12 months.
Beam was on the Laney Fieldhouse when he was shot shortly earlier than midday on Thursday, authorities mentioned. The alleged shooter fled the scene.
Director of Athletics at Laney Faculty John Beam.
Laney Faculty
Police combed by way of surveillance footage, and at 3:15 a.m. Friday, an individual matching the suspect’s description was noticed at a Bay Space Speedy Transit station and was taken into custody, Oakland police mentioned.
Police didn’t focus on a attainable motive.
The suspect — 27-year-old Cedric Irving — did know the coach, however “they didn’t have a relationship,” police mentioned. Irving performed highschool soccer within the Bay Space, however by no means performed for Beam.
Irving did not attend Laney Faculty or work on the school, however he went to campus “for a selected motive” and “has been recognized to loiter on or across the campus,” police mentioned.
Authorities reply to a capturing at Laney Faculty in Oakland, California, Nov. 13, 2025.
KGO
Oakland police mentioned Irving was not recognized to the division.
A gun recovered from the suspect is similar caliber because the casings and rounds recovered on the crime scene, police added.
Beam, who was hospitalized in vital situation, died at about 10 a.m. Friday, Gloria Beltran of the Oakland police mentioned.
Director of Athletics at Laney Faculty John Beam.
Laney Faculty
Piedmont Police Chief Frederick Shavies referred to as the coach an “completely unbelievable human being.”
“Our hearts are aching,” Shavies mentioned at Friday’s information convention.
