John Beam, the longtime Laney College football coach and athletic director who was profiled on Netflix’s documentary series Last Chance U, was shot Thursday on the Laney College campus, law enforcement and college officials said. The shooting occurred just before noon near the college’s fieldhouse; Beam was found at the scene and transported to a local hospital.
Oakland police said the suspect fled on foot and was described by witnesses as a man wearing dark clothing and a black hoodie; investigators were reviewing surveillance footage and conducting interviews Friday as the search continued. City and college officials locked down parts of the campus while first responders and detectives worked the scene.
Beam — an Oakland coaching fixture for decades who led Laney’s football program to regional success and helped develop players who went on to four-year programs and professional careers — gained national recognition when Laney was featured in the 2020 season of Netflix’s Last Chance U. The series documented junior college athletes attempting to rebuild their lives and careers, and Beam’s leadership and the program’s turnaround received wide attention.
The shooting marked the second reported school shooting in Oakland in two days, city leaders said, amplifying community concern about campus safety. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and Laney officials expressed shock and mourning for the college community, urging anyone with information to contact police.
Details about Beam’s medical condition were initially limited; local outlets reported he was hospitalized and receiving treatment while the college and family asked for privacy. Peralta Community College District released a statement calling Beam “a renowned coach, teacher, mentor, and leader” and said the district was “devastated” by the incident.
The Oakland Police Department asked anyone with video or other information to come forward as it pursues leads. Authorities cautioned that the investigation remained active and that they were not releasing further details that could compromise the probe.
English