LATE BREAKING UPDATE: We are sad to report that authorities now indicate that the coach has died and a suspect is in custody.
A beloved football coach and mentor who dedicated his life to guiding young Americans was gunned down on his own college campus in Oakland, California, as crime continues to plague Democrat-run cities across the nation.
Story Snapshot
- Coach John Beam, featured in Netflix’s “Last Chance U,” was shot at Laney College on November 13, 2025.
- The suspected gunman fled the scene and remains at large despite the ongoing police investigation.
- Beam, a 40-year coaching veteran and current athletic director, is hospitalized in critical condition.
- The shooting highlights ongoing safety concerns at educational institutions in crime-ridden Oakland.
Netflix Star Coach Shot in Campus Attack
Coach John Beam, the inspirational football mentor featured in Netflix’s documentary series “Last Chance U,” was shot Thursday morning at Laney College in Oakland, California.
The attack occurred in the Laney Field House shortly before noon, sending shockwaves through the Bay Area athletics community. Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee confirmed Beam’s identity, calling him “a giant in Oakland” who serves as “a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people.” The 40-year coaching veteran has served as Laney College’s athletic director since 2006.
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 gunman, described as a male wearing dark clothing, fled the campus immediately after the shooting and remains unapprehended. Oakland Assistant Police Chief James Beere confirmed that investigators are conducting interviews and reviewing surveillance footage to locate the suspect.
Responding officers found Beam suffering from gunshot wounds and transported him to a local hospital, where he is receiving treatment. The Peralta Community College District initially withheld the victim’s name “out of respect for their privacy” before Mayor Lee’s public statement.
Campus Security Concerns in Crime-Plagued Oakland
The shooting forced a campus-wide lockdown that was later lifted once police determined there was no active threat. All in-person classes were canceled for the remainder of the day as law enforcement secured the area.
The Peralta Community College District emphasized that “the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our highest priority.” This incident underscores the growing security challenges facing educational institutions in Oakland, a city that has struggled with rising crime rates under progressive leadership that has consistently prioritized criminals over law-abiding citizens.
Community Mourns Attack on Beloved Mentor
Beam’s shooting represents an attack on everything decent Americans value – hard work, mentorship, and dedication to young people’s futures. For over four decades, this football legend has shaped countless lives through athletics, embodying the traditional American values of discipline, perseverance, and personal responsibility.
His work with at-risk youth at Laney College exemplified how sports can transform lives and build character. The fact that such a dedicated public servant was targeted in broad daylight on his own campus demonstrates the complete breakdown of law and order in Democrat-controlled Oakland, where criminals operate with impunity while good people live in fear.
