California Community College Athletics Director Shot and Killed in Oakland Campus Shooting
A prominent figure in US football coaching has been gunned down on the campus of Laney College in Oakland, California. John Beam, director of athletics at the college, was shot during a lunchtime incident at the school's field house and died shortly after.
Beam, who appeared in Netflix's documentary series Last Chance U, had a reputation for mentoring young athletes and helping them achieve their dreams. Over his career, he coached numerous players who went on to play in the NFL, including Nahshon Wright of the Chicago Bears and Marvel Smith, a two-time Super Bowl champion.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community, with officials describing it as "a very targeted incident" that was not related to Beam's work at Laney College. The suspect, who is reportedly known to Beam, was arrested in possession of a firearm.
Beam's death has sparked an outpouring of tributes and condolences from his colleagues, former players, and even the mayor of Oakland, Barbara Lee, who hailed him as a mentor and advocate for young people in need. "Coach Beam spent four decades lifting up Oakland and mentoring our young people," she said. "Now we must honor his memory by continuing the hard work of ridding our community of gun violence."
The incident is the latest in a growing epidemic of gun violence on US college campuses, with at least 460 reported incidents in 2025 alone, including 33 in California.
Beam's legacy will be remembered for his dedication to helping young people achieve their goals and his tireless advocacy for social justice. His death serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence on communities and the need for urgent action to address this crisis.
A prominent figure in US football coaching has been gunned down on the campus of Laney College in Oakland, California. John Beam, director of athletics at the college, was shot during a lunchtime incident at the school's field house and died shortly after.
Beam, who appeared in Netflix's documentary series Last Chance U, had a reputation for mentoring young athletes and helping them achieve their dreams. Over his career, he coached numerous players who went on to play in the NFL, including Nahshon Wright of the Chicago Bears and Marvel Smith, a two-time Super Bowl champion.
The shooting has sent shockwaves through the community, with officials describing it as "a very targeted incident" that was not related to Beam's work at Laney College. The suspect, who is reportedly known to Beam, was arrested in possession of a firearm.
Beam's death has sparked an outpouring of tributes and condolences from his colleagues, former players, and even the mayor of Oakland, Barbara Lee, who hailed him as a mentor and advocate for young people in need. "Coach Beam spent four decades lifting up Oakland and mentoring our young people," she said. "Now we must honor his memory by continuing the hard work of ridding our community of gun violence."
The incident is the latest in a growing epidemic of gun violence on US college campuses, with at least 460 reported incidents in 2025 alone, including 33 in California.
Beam's legacy will be remembered for his dedication to helping young people achieve their goals and his tireless advocacy for social justice. His death serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence on communities and the need for urgent action to address this crisis.
This is such a sad news... I'm still trying to process it, you know? I mean, Coach Beam was like more than just an athletics director, he was a mentor, a role model, and a symbol of hope for young people from all walks of life. His legacy goes way beyond his achievements in football, it's about the countless lives he touched and the doors he opened for so many kids.
. 460 reported incidents in 2025? That's crazy! And to think that Coach Beam was one of the victims... it's like, what can we do to prevent this from happening to others?
, and I think that's something we should all learn from.
.
. So sad that some nutcase had to go and shoot him on campus... it's just not right, you know? 
I mean, I'm all for people having their own opinions and stuff, but taking it out on someone who's trying to help young athletes achieve their dreams? No way, man 
. And now we're seeing a growing epidemic of gun violence on college campuses... like, what's going on here?! 
We need some serious action taken ASAP before more innocent people get hurt 
. And it's not just about the shooting itself, but also how it highlights the bigger issue of gun violence in our country 
. We can't keep pretending that everything is fine when it's not 
.
... I mean, think about it, this guy was making a difference in people's lives through sports and now he's gone too soon. It's like, what's the point of all these guns out there? Can't we just resolve our issues peacefully? 
And it's not just him, but his whole community is suffering because of this senseless violence.
.
. Anyway, Coach Beam's legacy will live on through the kids he mentored and coached, and we should definitely keep his memory alive by working towards change 
gotta do something about it, you feel me?
Oh man, I'm shocked but not surprised that someone would go down with a gun in a college campus 
can you believe it? I mean, it's like they say, "you can't take it with you"... but yeah, you can still die by it