BREAKING UPDATE: The coach has died at the hospital.
A beloved football coach and mentor who dedicated over 40 years to shaping young lives was gunned down on his own college campus in Oakland, with the shooter still roaming free.
Story Highlights
- Coach John Beam, Netflix “Last Chance U” star, shot at Laney College in Oakland.
- The shooter fled the scene and remains at large despite the ongoing police investigation.
- Beam was hospitalized after being shot in the campus field house during daytime hours.
- The campus is temporarily locked down, and classes are canceled for the remainder of the day.
Campus Violence Strikes Oakland Football Legend
Coach John Beam, featured in Netflix’s “Last Chance U” series, was shot Thursday morning at Laney College in Oakland, California. The shooting occurred shortly before noon in the Laney Field House, where Beam has served as athletic director since 2006.
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee confirmed the victim’s identity, calling Beam “a giant in Oakland” who has mentored thousands of young people throughout his distinguished career.
A search is underway in Oakland, California for a gunman who opened fire at Laney College on Thursday, critically wounding athletic director and former football coach John Beam, who gained national fame in the Netflix docuseries “Last Chance U.” https://t.co/TxgovwJiSM pic.twitter.com/mMVUCv4x4U
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) November 14, 2025
Suspect Remains at Large Despite Police Response
The alleged shooter fled the campus immediately after the attack and remains uncaptured, according to Oakland police. Authorities describe the suspect as a man wearing dark clothing.
Oakland Assistant Police Chief James Beere confirmed investigators are conducting interviews and reviewing surveillance footage to locate the perpetrator. This ongoing threat highlights serious concerns about campus security and public safety in a city already struggling with rising crime rates.
Veteran Coach’s Decades of Service Under Attack
Beam represents the type of dedicated educator and mentor that communities desperately need, having coached football for over 40 years in the Bay Area.
His work at Laney College, part of the Peralta Community College District, has provided guidance and opportunities for countless student-athletes. The senseless attack on such a respected figure demonstrates how violence increasingly threatens those working to build stronger communities and provide positive role models for young Americans.
The Peralta Community College District initially withheld Beam’s name “out of respect for their privacy,” but confirmed he was a senior member of the athletic staff.
Beam was immediately transported to a local hospital, where he continues receiving treatment. Campus officials lifted the lockdown after confirming there was no active threat, though classes were canceled and the campus closed for the day as a precautionary measure.
