Tragedy struck Laney College today when John Beam, the school's former football coach and current athletic director, was shot on campus, prompting an investigation by the Oakland Police Department. According to a CBS San Francisco report, the incident occurred just before noon, leading to the victim being transported to a local hospital, though his condition was not immediately known. The Oakland Police Department indicated that the suspect was male, wearing a hoodie, but details surrounding the shooter remained scant.
The college went into lockdown following the incident, with an emergency alert sent out by the Peralta Community College District at 12:16 PM to all Laney students and adjacent district offices, warning them to avoid the area. Even as initial reports suggested there might have been an active shooter involved, authorities later clarified that the situation did not fit this classification. However, the community was reminded to stay locked down until further notice, as detailed by Laney College's emergency communications.
As reported by KTVU, Beam has been a prominent figure in Oakland's athletic history, with a coaching career spanning over four decades and including stints at both Skyline High School and Laney College. Beyond his achievements on the field, Beam was recognized for his dedication to developing his athletes. "My parents were immigrants. They came out here and didn't know too much. Beam found my brother in San Lorenzo and said, ‘Hey come and play for me man. I could help you out,'" recounted Maamaloa Mafi in a KTVU interview back in 2014, testifying to Beam's influence and mentorship.
Following the incident, Mayor Barbara Lee expressed her anguish over the shooting, highlighting the urgent need to confront gun violence within the community. "I am heartbroken by today’s shooting at Laney College — the second shooting on an Oakland campus in one week," Mayor Lee said, per KQED. She insisted that it was imperative for the community to come together and to address this violence with urgency.
