Cedric Irving Jr. has been identified as the suspect in the shooting of Laney College Athletic Director John Beam, SF Chronicle reported. The suspect, 27, hails from Oakland. He was arrested around 3 am Friday in connection with the shooting. Beam, who gained fame through the Netflix series Last Chance U, remains in critical condition.
All about the shooting
John Beam was shot in the head on campus on Thursday. The 66-year-old was rushed to the hospital, where he was said to be in critical condition.
The suspect was taken into custody at a train station near Oakland before dawn Friday, AFP reported.
SF Chronicle, citing a source, stated Irving had confessed to the shooting.
Oakland Police confirmed on social media that a suspect had been arrested, but did not identify him.
Who was John Beam?
John Beam was a coach who tutored generations of athletes at Oakland's Laney College.
Beam and the Laney Eagles were featured in the 2020 season of the Netflix documentary series “Last Chance U." The docuseries ran for five seasons and focused on athletes at junior colleges looking to turn their lives around.
Beam joined Laney College in 2004 as a running backs coach. He became head coach in 2012, winning two league titles.
{{/usCountry}}Beam joined Laney College in 2004 as a running backs coach. He became head coach in 2012, winning two league titles.
{{/usCountry}}According to his biography on the college’s website, 20 of his players have gone on to the NFL.
“The Peralta community is devastated by his shooting and deeply concerned for his well-being. We are stunned and heartbroken that such violence has touched our campus,” Mark Johnson a spokesperson for Peralta Community College District said in an emailed statement on Beam's current medical status, AFP reported.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee called John Beam “a giant in Oakland -- a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people.”
"For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field."
(With inputs from AFP)