Famed former Laney College football coach and current athletic director John Beam was shot on the school's Oakland campus late Thursday morning, officials said.
Beam was in critical condition Thursday night at Highland Hospital in Oakland, the Peralta Community College District said.
The shooting happened just before noon on the community college campus located near Lake Merritt. Responding officers found the victim suffering from a gunshot wound, Oakland Police Department Acting Chief James Beere said.
Police are asking for the public's help in locating a potential suspect, described as a male wearing dark clothing, including a hoodie.
"The Peralta community is devastated by his shooting and deeply concerned for his well-being," the Peralta Community College District said in a statement. "We are stunned and heartbroken that such violence has touched our campus and one of the most respected and beloved members of our Laney, Peralta, and Oakland community. John Beam is a renowned coach, teacher, mentor, and leader whose impact extends far beyond athletics. Our thoughts are with him and his family."
The district said the Laney campus was placed on lockdown following the shooting. That order was later lifted, but the college did close for the remainder of the day.
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"I know that there was some concern that this may have been an active shooter," Beere said. "We responded as if it was an active shooter. I can tell you right now it was not an active shooter."
Beam caught national attention in 2020 when his football program was featured on the Netflix series "Last Chance U."
According to Laney’s website, Beam started coaching at the college in 2004, becoming head coach in 2012 and leading the team to a national championship in 2018. He retired as the team's coach in 2024 but continued as the school's athletic director.
"My thoughts are with Coach John Beam and his loved ones. We are praying for him," Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said in a statement. "Coach Beam is a giant in Oakland - a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people. For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family."
This marks the second shooting on an Oakland school campus in as many days. On Wednesday afternoon, a juvenile was injured and two others were arrested following a shooting at Skyline High School.
"I am heartbroken by today's shooting at Laney College - the second shooting on an Oakland campus in one week. OPD is investigating this incident," Mayor Lee said in a statement earlier Thursday. "We must continue confronting the ongoing gun violence crisis that is robbing our community of safety and stealing futures. This is a moment for our community to come together and address this violence with urgency."
Many members of the Laney College Football Team went to the Highland Hospital to visit Beam Thursday evening as he recovers.
“It didn’t feel real, it was really a surreal moment,” said Geovanni Vaoverde a Laney College Football Player.
Former players and coaches that NBC Bay Area spoke to at the hospital said his coaching has impacted them off the field.
“When you encounter people in your lifetime that help mold you and shape you. Iron sharpens iron, and you need that in your life,” said Benjie Ross, former player at Skyline High.
“At the end of the day he’s just a human being, he had a real impact on my life, and I just wanted to be here for him,” said Stern, former Laney College player.
The Peralta Community College District said the campus will be open Friday, and mental health counseling services will be available to all athletes, students and employees.
Anyone with information about the Laney College shooting is asked to contact the Oakland Police Department's Felony Assault Unit at 510-238-3426.
