In heartbreaking news, John Beam, the college football coach famed for his appearance in the Netflix series “Last Chance U”, has died following a shooting incident on the Laney College campus in Oakland, California. The police reported the unfortunate event on Friday, noting that a suspect has been apprehended.
On the day following the shooting, Oakland Police Chief Floyd Mitchell confirmed the death of the coach but offered limited information at that time. This incident marks the second shooting in Oakland schools within just 48 hours.
Acting Oakland Police Chief James Beere disclosed that officers responded to multiple reports regarding the shooting around the college premises. Authorities found Beam suffering from a gunshot wound, and he was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.
The Oakland Police’s social media update on Friday mentioned the arrest and promised further information will be released soon.
John Beam was not only the athletic director but also a veteran football coach at the college. He gained nationwide acclaim when he was featured in the Netflix series in 2020 and proudly led his team to a championship victory in 2018. Beam hung up his coaching whistle just last year.
In the aftermath of the shooting, two of Beam’s former athletes, the Wright brothers — Nahshon and Rejzohn — who now play in the NFL for the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints respectively, shared their grief on social media.
Rejzohn expressed his deep respect and love for the coach with a post that included a touching photo of Beam, stating, “You mean the world to me.”
Nahshon also paid tribute by sharing a heartfelt image of their beloved coach along with a broken heart emoji.
This tragic incident came just one day after a student was injured by gunfire at Oakland’s Skyline High School, with the student currently reported in stable condition.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
