Man charged with murder in shooting of Oakland football coach and 'Last Chance U' star John Beam

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A 27-year-old man was charged Monday with murder in the shooting death of celebrated former football coach John Beam, who died Friday after being shot in the head on the junior college campus in Oakland where he worked.

Cedric Irving Jr. could face 50 years to life if convicted, said Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson at a Monday press conference. Irving also faces enhancement charges alleging he personally fired a gun that caused great bodily injury and that the victim was particularly vulnerable, possibly due to age, according to the charging complaint.

Beam, 66, was a giant in the local community, a father figure who forged deep relationships with his players while fielding a team that regularly competed for championships. The Netflix docuseries “Last Chance U” focused on Beam and the Laney Eagles in its 2020 season. He’d most recently been serving as the school’s athletic director after retiring from coaching last year.

“He really is the best of Oakland — was the best of Oakland,” Jones Dickson said. "His spirit is still here.”

The district attorney said Irving had no criminal record. He is being held without bail, and is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday. The Alameda County Public Defender’s Office said it has not been appointed to represent Irving and declined comment.

Back-to-back shootings at two schools last week have roiled Oakland, a city of roughly 400,000 across the bay from San Francisco. On Wednesday, a student was shot at Oakland’s Skyline High School. The student is in stable condition and two juveniles were in custody.

Jones Dickson said Skyline students were on a field trip at Laney College and had to suffer through two lockdowns in the same week. She said it was time to bring accountability into the debate over gun violence because too many young people were being hurt by easy access to firearms.

“That’s unacceptable that we have children in our community who now this is the norm. Two days in a row that they’re locked down for gun violence on a campus. I’m not good with that,” she said.

Officers arrived at Laney College before noon Thursday to find Beam shot in the head at the athletics field house. He was treated at a hospital, but died the following day from his injuries.

Irving was arrested at a commuter rail station just after 3 a.m. Friday. He was carrying the firearm used to shoot Beam, and he admitted to carrying out the shooting, according to the probable cause document.

Oakland Police Assistant Chief James Beere said the suspect went on campus for a “specific reason” but did not elaborate. “This was a very targeted incident,” he said at a Friday news conference.

Beere did not say how the two men knew each other but said Irving was known to hang around the Laney campus. Irving's brother told the San Francisco Chronicle that Irving had lost his job as a security guard after an altercation and was facing eviction at home.

Beam joined Laney College in 2004 as a running backs coach and became head coach in 2012, winning two league titles. According to his biography on the college’s website, at least 20 of his players went on to the NFL.

Beam previously worked at Skyline High School, where Irving had played football but after Beam had left for another job.

Flowers and signs are displayed at a sidewalk memorial for former Oakland football coach John Beam at Laney College, in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Jayne Moser looks at a sidewalk memorial for former football coach John Beam at Laney College, in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson speaks about charges for suspect Cedric Irving in the shooting of football coach John Beam at a news conference in Oakland, Calif., Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Leticia Palazzo contributes to a makeshift memorial outside the Laney College Athletics Fieldhouse for Athletic Director John Beam, who was shot Thursday, in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Nov. 15, 2025. (Yalonda M. James/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

Reactions to the death of actor-director Rob Reiner, who was found dead with his wife Michele Reiner at their home in Los Angeles on Sunday. The acclaimed director and Emmy winner was also a major Democratic booster, leading many prominent politicians to share tributes.

Here’s a look at some notable reactions to Reiner’s death:

“Rob’s achievements in film and television gave us some of our most cherished stories on screen. But beneath all of the stories he produced was a deep belief in the goodness of people—and a lifelong commitment to putting that belief into action.” — On X.

“Love you, Rob.” — On Instagram with a photo of him and Reiner on the set of “Stand By Me.”

“He was one of the greatest directors of our time. He was a friend. He was simply a beautiful person. Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle were two of the most kind and caring souls you could ever imagine.” — On Instagram.

“Rob was the big-hearted genius behind so many of the classic stories we love, with projects as wide-ranging as The Princess Bride to A Few Good Men. His boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others — and encouraging us to dream bigger. That empathy extended well beyond his films.” — In a statement.

“Rob and I remained good friends ever since we made GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI. The studio didn’t think I was old enough to do the part, but Rob fought for me. Political differences never stood in the way of our love and respect for each other. I am devastated by this terrible event.” — On X.

“This is a devastating loss for our city and our country. Rob Reiner’s contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society, and he has improved countless lives through his creative work and advocacy fighting for social and economic justice.” —In a statement.

“Grieving the loss of my favorite director of all-time. A Few Good Men is THE reason I became an actor, and Rob’s filmography behind the camera is THE reason I wanted to direct and still do.” — On Instagram.

“The news of a deadly assault on Rob and Michelle Reiner in their home is devastating. It’s hard to think of anyone more remarkable and excellent in every field and endeavor they pursued. Rob was creative, funny, and beloved. And in all of their endeavors, Michelle was his indispensable partner, intellectual resource, and a loving wife.” — On X.

“Horrified to hear of the passing of Rob Reiner and his wonderful wife Michelle. So much love to their kids and family.” — On X.

“The Lear Family is devastated by the deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner. Norman often referred to Rob as a son, and their close relationship was extraordinary, to us and the world. Norman would have wanted to remind us that Rob and Michele spent every breath trying to make this country a better place.” — From a statement.

“I can’t handle the truth that one of the greatest filmmakers to ever live is gone. We lost one of the few good men.” — via X.

“Thank you Rob for giving us so much joy to hold on to. Life and talent always turned up to 11.” — Via Instagram.

FILE - Former Vice President AL Gore, right, listens as movie director Rob Reiner addresses a Tribeca Film Festival news conference on a series of global warming-themed short films produced by the SOS (Save Our Selves) campaign which opened the festival in a gala hosted by Gore, April 25, 2007, in New York. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

FILE - Director Rob Reiner attends the premiere for "LBJ" on day 8 of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP, File)