Court Appearance for Accused Killer of Beloved Coach
The man charged with the murder of former Oakland community college football coach John Beam made his first court appearance on Tuesday. Cedric Irving Jr., 27, will be held without bail following the shocking incident that has rocked the local community.
Details of the Charges and Court Proceedings
Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson confirmed that Irving faces a murder charge with several enhancements. If convicted, he could be sentenced to 50 years to life in prison. During Tuesday's hearing, Irving did not enter a plea, and his arraignment was scheduled for December 16.
Appearing in court behind protective glass, Irving wore a 'modesty garment' to prevent self-harm and looked wide-eyed throughout the proceeding. Prosecutors have not yet disclosed a motive for the shooting, which occurred at Laney College.
A Community Mourns a Local Giant
John Beam, 66, was a monumental figure in Oakland, known as a father figure to his players. He served as the school's athletic director after retiring from coaching last year. His leadership of the Laney Eagles was prominently featured in the Netflix docuseries 'Last Chance U' during its 2020 season.
Officers discovered Beam with a gunshot wound to the head at the athletics field house before noon last Thursday. He was treated at a hospital but tragically succumbed to his injuries the following day.
According to a probable cause document, 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 police have described the incident as 'very targeted.'
The district attorney noted that Irving has no prior criminal record. This back-to-back school shooting, following another incident at Oakland's Skyline High School, has deeply unsettled the city of approximately 400,000 residents.
Beam's legacy at Laney College, which he joined in 2004, includes two league titles as head coach and guiding at least 20 players to the NFL.
