Oakland football legend John Beam has succumbed to his wounds after being fatally shot at the Laney College in San Francisco. The 66-year-old featured in the Netflix series Last Chance U circling his team, the Laney Eagles. Beam's legacy lives on with as many as 20 players having gone on to play in the NFL.

John Beam has passed away after being shot in the Laney College Campus in Oakland, California. The 66-year-old was attacked on Thursday and breathed his last a day later. Beam featured in the Netflix documentary 'Last Chance U' and tributes have since flown in for the Oakland football legend.

Beam had coached for more than 40 years before retiring last year. He took up the role of an athletic director in 2025 and occupied the same until his passing. As per his biography on the college's website, at least 20 of his players have gone on to the NFL.

As per Associated Press, police said the shooting happened Thursday before noon, and officers arrived to find Beam shot. He was taken to the hospital but did not survive his wounds. The suspect, identified as Cedric Irving Jr. The incident is believed to be a targeted attack, with suspect known to loiter around the campus.

Irving was arrested at a commuter rail station in Oakland and police have recovered the gun. He had played football at a high school where Beam had worked but not at the time when the coach was employed there. It is unclear how Irving and Beam knew each other.

A revered figure in the Oakland sporting community, Beam received widespread recognition after featuring on Netflix. He featured in the fifth season of Last Chance U with the docu-series focusing his team, the Laney Eagles, which released in 2020.

Beam was shown to gamble on players nobody else wanted. As a coach, he developed deep relationships with his players, empowering them to regularly compete for championships.

Beam's family said in a statement that he was a "loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend."

"Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love," the family said, requesting privacy.