“Last Chance U” college football coach John Beam dies after campus shooting: what do we know about the suspect?

College football coach John Beam, who appeared on the Netflix show “Last Chance U,” has died after being shot on the campus of Laney College in Oakland on Thursday, Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell confirmed.

According to multiple reports, 27-year-old Cedric Irving was identified and arrested by police in connection with the shooting. Irving is allegedly a former student and football player at Skyline High School in Oakland, where Beam previously coached.

Suspect knew the coach but was not close

Assistant Police Chief James Beere said Beam and Irving knew each other, but were not close. Officials believe Irving did not attend Skyline High School while Beam was coaching there.

On Wednesday, a student was also shot at Skyline High School but is now reportedly in stable condition.

Beam’s legacy at Laney College

Beam retired as head football coach at Laney College last year but continued serving as athletic director and had been on campus in that role at the time of his death.

According to Beam’s biography on Laney College’s website, 20 of the players he coached went on to play in the NFL, including the Chicago Bears’ Nashdon Wright and his brother Rezjohn, who plays for the New Orleans Saints. Both posted tributes to Beam online following the news of his death.

Community remembers a mentor and leader

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said the entire community had been “shaken” by the death of a “giant,” who had “shaped leaders on and off the field” for more than 40 years.

Former Oakland PD Deputy Chief Fred Shavies, who considered Beam a friend, described him as “so much more than a coach” and a “father figure to thousands of men and women.”

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