Laney College athletic director John Beam, known from Last Chance U, was shot Thursday near the school’s football field and is in critical condition, according to Oakland’s KTVU. Police responded to reports of gunfire just before noon on November 14 and found Beam wounded. Acting Police Chief James Beere said it was not an active-shooter situation; the suspect, described as a man in dark clothing and a black hoodie, remains at large.
Authorities didn’t initially name the victim, but local outlets identified Beam, 66, who appeared in the final season of the Netflix series in 2020. Beam retired as head coach after the 2024 season but stayed on as athletic director.
The Peralta Community College District said it was “stunned and heartbroken,” praising Beam as a respected coach and mentor. Beam has coached football in the Oakland area for 45 years, joining Laney in 2004 and becoming head coach in 2012. He has long emphasized honesty, consistency, and life skills in his coaching.
The shooting was the second on an Oakland campus this week. Mayor Barbara Lee said the past two days have been “incredibly heavy” and offered prayers for Beam and his family.