John Beam dies after Laney College shooting as Last Chance U coach leaves Oakland in mourning

John Beam, the well-known Laney College coach and “Last Chance U” star, has died after being shot on the college campus in Oakland. He was 66 years old. Police said the shooting was targeted, and they have arrested a suspect.

The shooting happened on Thursday at the Laney fieldhouse. John Beam was rushed to the hospital, but he did not survive. This sad news has shocked the whole Oakland community. Students, players, and local leaders said John Beam helped many young people for more than 40 years. The Associated Press said he was shot in the head. A vigil was held outside the hospital as people waited and prayed for him.John Beam worked at Laney College for many years and became known worldwide after appearing in Season 5 of the Netflix show “Last Chance U.”

Before Laney, he coached at Skyline High School in Oakland. He was respected by players, parents, and coaches.

C.J. Anderson and former players mourn John Beam

Former NFL running back C.J. Anderson, who played for John Beam at Laney, shared many posts on X. On Thursday, he wrote, “Keep fighting. Keep praying.” After John Beam died, he posted a broken-heart emoji. Other former players also shared how John Beam helped them when they had no support. They said he cared about every player and always pushed them to stay strong.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said the last two days were very hard for the city because this was the second school shooting in two days. She said schools should be safe places and asked for guns to be removed from streets. Police said they arrested the suspect soon after the shooting. They said the attack was not random. The suspect had some past link to a school where John Beam once coached. A gun was recovered.Also Read: Who Is Cedric Irving Jr? Oakland Police Name The Suspect As Laney College Mourns John Beam’s DeathJohn Beam coached at Skyline High School before joining Laney in 2004. He became head coach in 2012 and later became the athletic director. Even after he stopped coaching, he stayed close to the team. He helped many players reach big colleges and the NFL. People in Oakland say they have lost a mentor, a friend, and a hero who changed many young lives.