Cedric Irving Jr, 27, has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting of revered Oakland college football coach John Beam. He appeared in court on Tuesday and was ordered to remain in jail without bail. Irving, who has no prior criminal record, faces charges of murder and use of a firearm, according to Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson.
Beam, a legendary figure in Oakland football, was shot in the head at Laney College, where he had worked for over two decades and served as athletics director. He gained recognition after appearing on the Netflix series Last Chance U five years ago. The day before the killing, Beam spoke at a community forum about security concerns on campus, including the field house where he was later killed.
Irving did not enter a plea and is scheduled to do so at a hearing on 16 December. If convicted, he could face 50 years to life in prison, with additional enhancements for personally using a firearm and targeting a vulnerable victim. Prosecutors have not disclosed a possible motive.
Police arrested Irving at a commuter rail station early Friday morning, carrying the firearm used in the shooting. According to the probable cause document, he admitted to carrying out the shooting. Assistant Chief James Beere stated that the incident was “very targeted” and that Irving was known to frequent the Laney campus. Irving’s brother told local media that Irving had recently lost his job and was facing eviction.
The shooting, which occurred on Thursday, prompted two lockdowns at Laney College, affecting students from Skyline High School who were on a field trip. The previous day, a student was shot at Skyline high school; two juveniles are in custody and the student is in stable condition. District Attorney Jones Dickson called for accountability in addressing gun violence, stating it was unacceptable for children to experience lockdowns as the norm.
