Charges Filed in Laney College Shooting
A 27-year-old man has been formally charged with murder following the fatal shooting of John Beam, the celebrated former football coach featured in the Netflix series 'Last Chance U'. Cedric Irving was charged on Monday and is being held without bail, with his arraignment scheduled for Tuesday.
A Targeted Attack on a Beloved Figure
Officers were called to the athletics field house at Laney College in Oakland before noon on Thursday, where they discovered the 66-year-old Beam suffering from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries the following day.
According to court documents, Irving was arrested at a commuter rail station just after 3 a.m. on Friday. He was allegedly in possession of the firearm used in the shooting and admitted to carrying out the attack. Oakland Assistant Chief James Beere confirmed this was a 'very targeted incident', with the suspect having a 'specific reason' for being on campus, though the exact motive remains undisclosed.
A Coaching Legacy Cut Short
John Beam was a giant within the local community, described as a father figure to his players. He joined Laney College in 2004 and became head coach in 2012, leading the team to two league titles. His biography notes that at least 20 of his players advanced to the NFL.
After retiring from coaching last year, he had been serving as the school's athletic director. His profile was raised internationally when the Laney Eagles were the focus of the 2020 season of the Netflix docuseries 'Last Chance U'.
The criminal complaint against Irving includes enhancement charges alleging he personally fired the gun, causing great bodily injury, and that the victim was particularly vulnerable. The mandatory minimum sentence for first-degree murder is 25 years to life. A conviction on the charge of personally discharging the firearm resulting in death also carries a sentence of 25 years to life.
This tragic event occurred just one day after a student was shot at Oakland’s Skyline High School, a school where Beam had previously worked. The student is reported to be in stable condition.
