Crime
Who is Cedric Irving Jr? Suspect arrested in shooting death of John Beam
Oakland, California — John Beam, the highly respected Laney College head football coach and athletic director known for shaping generations of athletes and gaining national recognition through the Netflix documentary series Last Chance U, died Friday morning from gunshot injuries sustained on campus the previous day. He was 66 years old.
Beam was shot inside the Laney College fieldhouse shortly before noon Thursday in what investigators described as a targeted attack.
He was transported to Highland Hospital, where family, friends, and former players gathered overnight. Authorities confirmed he passed away at approximately 10 a.m. Friday.
Oakland police announced the arrest of 27-year-old Cedric Irving Jr. early Friday at the San Leandro BART station.
Acting Police Chief James Beere stated that Irving, a resident of Oakland, was identified as a suspect through extensive surveillance review.
According to Beere, Irving told investigators he was acquainted with Beam, though they did not have a personal relationship.
Investigators emphasized the attack was intentional and not connected to robbery or a random act.
“This was a specific, targeted incident,” Beere said. “We do not believe the suspect was a student or employee of Laney College.”
Police confirmed Irving previously played football at Skyline High School but never worked with or played under Beam.
Authorities also recovered a firearm believed to be used in the shooting, matching the caliber of shell casings found at the scene.
The case had not yet been submitted to prosecutors as of Friday afternoon, and a motive remains under investigation.
Chief Beere detailed the coordinated investigative effort, which included reviewing hundreds of hours of video from residential security systems, campus cameras, private businesses, and public transit.
“We used every legally available source of video,” Beere said. “A deputy ultimately recognized the suspect from bus surveillance footage, leading to the arrest.”
Authorities credited rapid response and interagency support for the quick apprehension.
Beam’s family released a written statement expressing profound grief:
“We are devastated that John Beam — our loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle — has been taken from us far too soon. John dedicated his life to uplifting others through education, mentorship, and the game he loved. His loss leaves a hole in our family and in the Oakland community he served so passionately.”
Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee praised law enforcement efforts and acknowledged the magnitude of the loss:
“Coach Beam was a giant in Oakland — a mentor, educator, and lifeline for thousands of young people. Our city is grieving alongside his family.”
The shooting occurred just one day after a separate school-related shooting at Skyline High School involving a 15-year-old victim, heightening community concern over campus safety.
Family members of the suspect expressed shock and disbelief when informed of the arrest.
Irving’s father said he was not yet prepared to speak publicly, while his brother, Samuael Irving, described Cedric as an academically strong student and athlete who had become increasingly isolated in recent years.
“The Cedric I knew wasn’t capable of murder — but the way things had been going, I honestly don’t know,” his brother said quietly.
Beam spent more than four decades developing student-athletes in the Bay Area, helping hundreds transfer to four-year universities and, in many cases, pursue professional careers.
He led Laney College to a 2018 community college national championship and became widely recognized for his steadfast mentorship, discipline, and commitment to student success.
Former players described him as a father figure and life coach.
“He turned boys into men,” said former athlete Clinton Pugh. “He changed lives.”
Laney College remained under heightened security following the shooting. Authorities confirmed there is no ongoing threat to students or staff.
Police continue to request information from witnesses and community members who may have seen the suspect or events preceding the shooting.
Crime
Attorneys Argue Jacob Bard Actions in Deadly Kentucky State University Shooting Were Legally Justified
Attorneys representing Jacob Bard, the man accused in a deadly shooting at Kentucky State University, contend that his actions were legally justified and undertaken in defense of his family amid what they describe as a violent and uncontrolled situation on campus.
In a press release issued Monday afternoon, Bard’s legal team from the Indiana-based law firm Danks & Danks asserted that Bard “was completely justified under the law in his use of deadly force.”
Bard is accused of fatally shooting one Kentucky State University student and wounding another during an incident at a campus dormitory.
According to the attorneys’ statement, Bard traveled to Kentucky State University after his younger son reported being attacked on multiple occasions.
The release alleges that on Monday, December 8, a group of approximately 20 to 30 individuals gathered outside the son’s dormitory, some allegedly armed, and began beating on the door. Campus police were reportedly called to respond to the disturbance.
The following morning, Bard and his wife met with Kentucky State University police. While the attorneys stated that officers appeared sincere in their efforts, they claimed it was evident to the family that campus police were “ill-prepared to deal with the out-of-control and violent environment.”
The legal team further alleges that both the university and its police department failed to adequately address what they described as multiple armed and violent felonies against Bard’s sons, ages 18 and 19, as well as other students in the days preceding the shooting.
Those alleged incidents included burglaries and armed assaults.
Later that morning, the family attended a meeting at Young Hall with campus police and a university dean.
According to the release, the meeting left the family convinced that the university would not be able to maintain a safe environment, prompting them to begin removing the son’s belongings from the dormitory.
When the family returned to the residence hall, the attorneys claim that individuals previously involved in the alleged assaults were present, despite assurances they would not be allowed inside.
The statement further alleges that those individuals photographed the family and made verbal threats.
The attorneys contend that, even with two armed Kentucky State University police officers present, a group of 20 to 30 individuals gathered in the dormitory lobby and “violently and viciously attacked” Bard’s son and family members.
According to the release, Bard’s son was slammed into the concrete floor and beaten by multiple people, and the officer on scene allegedly lost control of the situation.
“In the chaos,” the attorneys wrote, Bard attempted to pull attackers off his son but was struck himself. Believing his son to be in imminent danger of death or serious physical injury, Bard then drew his firearm and shot two individuals whom the attorneys say were actively assaulting his son.
The legal team also stated that no charges have been filed against others allegedly involved in the confrontation and claimed the Bard family has continued to receive death threats.
The release further alleges that the mother of the deceased student has publicly called for retaliation against Bard’s son and sought assistance from criminal groups—claims that have not been independently verified by authorities.
The case against Bard was presented to a grand jury on December 16.
During a previous court hearing, a detective testified that at least one video reviewed by investigators did not show the shooting victims assaulting Bard’s son.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not issued a final determination regarding the circumstances surrounding the shooting.