Laney College AD John Beam, former coach on Netflix's 'Last Chance U', dies after being shot on campus

Laney College athletic director and former head football coach John Beam was shot on campus on Thursday. ABC News has officially reported that Beam succumbed to his injuries on Friday morning. He was 66 years old.

The Oakland Police Department and other authorities revealed on Friday that a suspect has been arrested in the shooting. The identity is still unknown, although police revealed that he did, in fact, know the coach. They did not have a relationship, but the alleged shooter played high school football in the Bay Area.

At first, the college released a statement identifying Beam as a “senior member of our athletic staff,” and revealed that the shooting occurred in the Laney Field House. The statement revealed that Beam was taken to a local hospital in the aftermath of the incident. 

“A senior member of our athletic staff was shot on campus in the Laney Field House,” the junior college said in a statement to local outlet KTVU. “The individual was immediately transported to a local hospital, and we are keeping them — and their loved ones — in our hearts during this incredibly difficult time.”

According to the report, the shooting happened around noon in the 900 block of Fallon Street, adjacent to the college’s football field and athletic facilities — Beam’s place of work. At 12:16 p.m. local time, Peralta Community College District issued an emergency alert in response to an active shooter.

The alert read as follows: “An active shooter has been reported at the Laney Fieldhouse. Please avoid the area. Stay locked down until further notice. We will update when we have more information.”

It was clarified by authorities after the fact that there was no active shooter situation and that only one person had been shot in the incident. Still, the suspect in the shooting remained at large on Thursday night.

Beam is best known for his role on Netflix’s “Last Chance U” when he was still coaching the team. “Last Chance U” is a show that followed junior college football programs around and documented their seasons — particularly the stories of the football players, how they got there, and more importantly, what they’ll do when they leave the two-year school. 

In the years since appearing on the show, Beam had moved on to an administration role. The move was made after he had held the head coaching position since 2012. Beam joined the Laney football program in 2004 as the running backs coach after spending two decades as a high school coach in the Bay Area. 

“The Peralta community is devastated by his shooting and deeply concerned for his well-being,” Peralta Community College District spokesperson Mark Johnson said via The Associated Press. “We are stunned and heartbroken that such violence has touched our campus.”

Over his illustrious career, he sent over 100 players to play Division I college football. 20 of them have become NFL players — seven of which have played in Super Bowls. We send our thoughts and prayers to friends and family of John Beam.

On3’s Barkley Truax contributed to this report.