John Beam shooting suspect charged with murder after football coach who featured in Netflix show killed

On Monday (November 17), Alameda District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson announced charges against 27-year-old Cedric Irving Junior, in the fatal shooting of the 66-year-old Laney College athletic director.

Irving was charged with murder and the use of a firearm, and faces 50 years to life in state prison for both offenses, the statement said.

Beam died on Friday (November 14) after being wounded during a shooting on an Oakland college campus in California, United States, the day before.

The revered Bay Area football figure, who featured in Netflix documentary series ‘Last Chance U’, was rushed to Highland Hospital in critical condition on Thursday (November 13) after being shot in the head, but died on Friday morning, Oakland police homicide commander Lt. Gloria Beltran announced the news of his passing at a press conference.

Beam’s family said in a statement read by police: “We are devastated that John, our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend, has passed. Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love and support from all who cared about him. We are deeply grateful for your continued prayers and ask for privacy during this time.”

The suspect was acquainted with Beam but did not have a close relationship with him, according to Oakland Assistant Chief of Police James Beere. Officials said Irving was on campus for a specific purpose, though they did not specify what that was. While authorities described the encounter as targeted, Beere confirmed it was not connected to a robbery.

It was 11.53am on Thursday when Oakland Police officers responded to Laney College and found Beam suffering from gunshot wounds, Beltran said. Beam had been at the college’s fieldhouse, which houses the athletic training facilities, where he continued serving as athletic director after retiring as head football coach last year. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and listed in critical condition.

Irving Jr was later arrested by an Alameda County sheriff's deputy at a BART station after the deputy believed he matched the description of the suspect, Homicide Commander Gloria Beltran of the Oakland PD said.

Police said that Irving confessed to killing Beam during an interrogation after he was taken into custody, NBC Bay Area reported, citing an affidavit in support of the charges filed.

"During an interview, Cedric Irving was admonished of his rights and acknowledged them before providing a statement," the affidavit allegedly said, according to the news outlet.

He was reportedly then shown a firearm that was found in his bag. "Irving admitted that the gun located in his bag belonged to immediate possession. When shown a photograph of the handgun that was recovered, Irving admitted that the firearm belonged to him."

Irving does not yet have an attorney, according to Oaklandside.

Beam began coaching in Oakland in 1982 as Skyline High School’s defensive coordinator before joining Laney College in 2004 as the running backs coach, later becoming offensive coordinator and eventually head coach in 2012. Under his leadership, Laney won two league titles.

More than 20 of Beam’s former players went on to the NFL, including seven who played in the Super Bowl, according to his biography on the college’s website. He appeared in the 2020 season of ‘Last Chance U’, a Netflix original series that follows college football teams that aren't major programs and don't get much national attention.