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The Oakland Police Department (OPD) announced a former high school football player was arrested after a legendary California football coach was shot and killed at Laney College in Oakland.
The shooting happened just before noon Thursday inside the Laney College Fieldhouse, according to OPD.
When officers arrived, they found John Beam, 58, the longtime Laney College football coach and athletic director, had been shot multiple times, according to OPD and the Oakland Fire Department.
Beam was taken to Highland Hospital in critical condition, where he died Friday morning.
SHOOTING AT OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY RESIDENCE HALL LEAVES MULTIPLE VICTIMS
Former Laney College football coach and athletic director John Beam was identified as the shooting victim, according to sources. (KTVU)
“We are devastated that John Beam, our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, coach, mentor and friend has passed,” the Beam family wrote in a statement Friday. “Our hearts are full from the outpouring of love and support from all who cared about him. We are deeply grateful for your continued prayers, well wishes and thoughts.”
OPD Homicide Unit commander Gloria Beltran said during a news conference Friday the suspect, Cedric Irving, 27, was taken into custody at the San Leandro Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) station.
Police confirmed Irving previously played high school football in Oakland, but did not play for Beam.
Cedric Irving was arrested in connection to Coach Beam’s death. (Alameda County Sheriff’s Office)
“This is a very targeted incident,” officials said. “Coach Beam, although they did not have a close relationship, was open to helping everybody in our community, and this is not uncommon for him to have a relationship with someone that he would think needs help. In this case, I can just tell you that the individual that was arrested went specifically to the campus for a specific reason.”
Authorities noted Irving was known to loiter on and around the college campus, though no motive was immediately released.
A weapon was found in Irving’s possession, and the caliber matched the live rounds found at the scene, police said.
Coach John Beam was pronounced dead Friday after the Laney College shooting. (@coachjohnbeam/Instagram)
Hundreds of people gathered at the hospital Thursday night for a vigil in honor of Beam.
Beam started at Laney College as the running backs coach in 2004 and was later promoted to offensive coordinator, where he led the Eagles to three conference championship wins and five consecutive bowl game appearances.
As head football coach, Beam won two league titles, had a .600 winning percentage and made four bowl game appearances.
A gunman opened fire Thursday at Laney College in Oakland, California. (KTVU)
He produced more than 20 NFL players, including seven players that participated in the Super Bowl, and his program has a 90% graduation and transfer rate.
Beam was also featured in Netflix’s 2020 documentary, “Last Chance U,” which highlighted junior college football players with difficult pasts, according to the streaming service.
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Laney College could not immediately be reached by Fox News Digital for comment.