John Beam, the football coach featured in Netflix's 'Last Chance U', has died at the age of 66 after being shot on an Oakland college campus. The incident occurred on Thursday at the field house of Laney College, where Beam served as athletic director. Police arrested 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr. shortly before Beam's death was announced on Friday.
Oakland authorities confirmed that Beam succumbed to his injuries on Friday morning. 'Coach Beam passed away this morning from the gunshot wound that he sustained yesterday,' they said. Beam's family expressed their devastation in a statement read by police, describing him as a 'loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend.'
Beam was the head football coach of the Laney College Eagles when the team appeared in Season 5 of 'Last Chance U', the final installment of the Netflix series. He joined Laney as running backs coach in 2004 and became head coach in 2014, leading the team to two league titles. Twenty of his former students went on to play in the NFL.
The shooting has shocked the local community. Police have not disclosed a motive, and the investigation is ongoing. Beam's family has requested privacy as they mourn his loss.
