Who is Cedric Irving Jr? Oakland police name the suspect as Laney College mourns John Beam’s death

The suspect in the fatal shooting of Laney College football coach John Beam has been identified as Cedric Irving Jr, according to Oakland police. The shooting occurred around noon Thursday inside the fieldhouse on campus.

Beam was transported to a hospital immediately, but authorities confirmed early Friday that he died.The campus went into lockdown minutes after the first emergency calls. Students and staff stayed inside classrooms while police checked every hallway and building. Officers first treated the situation as a possible active shooter case, but later confirmed it was not. The lockdown ended later in the day once the campus was cleared and made safe again.

John Beam shooting investigation and strong reactions from players and school officials

According to police, a suspect was arrested at around 3 a.m. Friday after an overnight search. Officers said the suspect was armed when found. Police had been searching since Thursday afternoon after the person ran from the scene right after the shooting.

Investigators have not said why the shooting happened or if John Beam knew the person involved.The Peralta Community College District released a statement saying the safety of students and staff remains their highest priority.

They also asked the community to follow updates only from the district or police, to prevent the spread of wrong information. Officers are now interviewing witnesses and reviewing campus security video to understand what led to the deadly shooting.John Beam was one of the most respected sports figures in Oakland. He became known across the country after appearing in the Netflix series Last Chance U, which followed Laney College football during one of its strongest seasons. Beam joined Laney in 2004, first coaching running backs, then serving as offensive coordinator. He became head coach in 2012, winning league titles, bowl games, and helping many players reach NCAA programs and even the NFL.Before Laney, he coached at Skyline High School in Oakland, where he won 15 championships and had four undefeated seasons. Also Read: Olympic Legend Surya Bonaly Loses All Her Medals To Las Vegas Thieves While Caring For Her Cancer-Stricken MotherHis former and current players said he changed their lives. Laney player Geovanni Valverde told ABC7 that the news “did not feel real.” Former NFL running back C.J. Anderson, who played for Beam in 2009, posted on X asking for prayers and wrote, “Keep fighting. Keep praying.”