Netflix Star John Beam Shot on College Campus

The city is reeling after a brazen daytime attack left one of its most respected community figures fighting to survive.

John Beam, the veteran coach and current athletic director at Laney College, was shot in the head on campus on Thursday, November 13, 2025. The incident has left the community shaken and pressing for answers about how such an attack happened in broad daylight.

The gunfire broke out shortly after noon at the college's Fieldhouse near East 8th Street and Fifth Avenue, a few blocks south of Lake Merritt. The chaos that followed triggered an immediate, heavy response from Oakland Police, who initially prepared for the possibility of a larger attack.

Acting Police Chief James Beere later tried to steady public concern at a press briefing, cutting through the early swirl of misinformation:

"I know that there was some concern that this may have been an active shooter. We responded as if it was an active shooter. I can tell you right now it was not an active shooter."

The shooter is still unaccounted for, and investigators are urging anyone with information to come forward. According to the acting chief of police, officers are searching for a man dressed in all-black clothing and wearing a black hoodie who fled the area. The case remains open as detectives continue to piece together what happened.

Campus on Edge as Students Process the Violence

Laney College also acknowledged that a top athletics staffer had been shot inside the fieldhouse. Several sources identified the victim as Beam, who was taken to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment.

The district also reportedly released the following statement in response to the shooting, saying:

"At approximately noon, a senior member of our athletic staff was shot on campus in the Laney Field House. 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. Out of respect for their privacy, we are not releasing their name at this moment."

The atmosphere on campus was one of shock and disbelief. Among those most impacted was 19-year-old left guard Geovanni Valverde, who described the moment as surreal. Beam had recruited many of the athletes himself, offering them not just a shot at college football but a way forward in life.

A Mentor to Hundreds of Young Athletes

To the countless players who have passed through the public community college's football program, Beam has been far more than a coach — he has been a mentor, advocate, and lifeline.

Former colleagues and longtime friends spoke out in disbelief and heartbreak. Lou Richie, head basketball coach at Bishop O'Dowd High School and a personal friend of Beam's, praised the injured coach's unwavering integrity and his decades-long dedication to uplifting youth in Oakland.

LaRonne Armstrong, former Oakland police chief, basketball coach, and another friend of Beam's, placed the event within a broader crisis: gun violence. Armstrong noted that the shooting served as a grim reminder of the continued threat such violence poses to Oakland communities.

Despite ongoing prevention efforts, he said, the city still has a long way to go to achieve its safety goals. Laney College was briefly placed on lockdown, which was lifted by 1:15 p.m. that Thursday. The return to normalcy, however, felt hollow for many. Beam's absence loomed large, his condition uncertain, his future hanging in the balance.

A Storied Career in Oakland Football

Beam's legacy runs deep. Before joining the college near Lake Merritt, he spent 22 years at Skyline High School, building not just winning teams, but strong young men. The coach is also revered as the "godfather of football in Oakland."

His passion for second chances and community development led to the college's football program being spotlighted in the 2020 Netflix docuseries "Last Chance U." But Beam never fully embraced the show's title.

As he once told his players, "We're not 'Last Chance U,' We're your first chance. We're your Best Chance U. I said you're not (rejects) […] You're the kids who came here for a reason. To better your grades or better your football outlook. We're your best chance."

A City in Mourning, a Leader in the Fight of His Life

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee addressed the shooting, expressing concern over the ongoing scourge of gun violence in the city. She acknowledged the weight of recent events and voiced support for Beam's recovery. She also called for renewed action to keep guns off the streets and ensure schools remain safe.

For over four decades, Beam has shaped not only athletes but also leaders. His commitment to Oakland's youth has been unwavering, his impact undeniable. Now, the man who gave so many their best chance is fighting for his own.