The tragic shooting of John Beam, a revered football coach and Netflix personality, has taken a chilling turn as police disclose that the assailant deliberately targeted the 66-year-old. Beam, who gained national recognition through his appearance in the 2020 Netflix docuseries ‘Last Chance U,’ was fatally shot in the head while at Laney College, where he served as the athletic director.

In the wake of the incident on Thursday, Beam was promptly transported to the hospital in critical condition. The swift response culminated in the arrest of a suspect who had initially fled the scene, detained by police early Friday morning.

Providing insight into the ongoing investigation, Oakland Assistant Chief James Beere stated that the suspect was not unfamiliar with the Laney College campus, often seen lingering in the vicinity. Beere alluded to the suspect being on campus with a distinct purpose that day, although he refrained from divulging specific details about the motive.

“This was a very targeted incident,” Beere confirmed, underscoring the calculated nature of the attack on Beam.

‘This was a very targeted incident,’ he said.

The suspect also played football at a high school where Beam had worked but not at the time the coach was employed there. 

Legendary football coach John Beam has died at the age of 66 after being shot in Oakland

Beam was shot while on campus at Laney College, where he worked as the athletic director and starred in the 2020 Netflix series ‘Last Chance U’ (pictured)

He was rushed to hospital in critical condition, before police took a suspect into custody Friday

Beam, who is survived by his wife, two daughters and granddaughters, was a much-loved member of the college sports world after spending over 40 years as a successful football coach. 

He began his coaching career as an offensive line coach at Serra High School in San Diego, helping them reach the playoffs for the first time in school history.

After moving Oakland, Beam joined Skyline High School as a defensive coordinator in 1982, before being promoted to head coach five years later. He enjoyed his most successful period at Skyline after winning 15 championships and overseeing four undefeated seasons. 

Beam initially joined Laney College as a running backs coach in 2004 and 2005 and was later promoted to offensive coordinator. In that role, he led an explosive offense to three conference championships and five straight bowl game appearances.

In 2012 the esteemed figure stepped up to become head coach, before guiding the team to two league titles and four bowl games.

It is believed the shooting took place at the fieldhouse on campus at East 8th Street and Fifth Avenue. 

Officers initially responded to the incident as if it there was an active shooter – with the college placed on lockdown – before they later determined that was not the case. 

Authorities have confirmed that a 27-year-old suspect was taken into custody early Friday morning at around 3am. He is said to have been in possession of a gun after being apprehended at San Leandro BART station.

Beam passed away in hospital at around 10am on Friday, it has been announced by authorities

The Laney College icon spent over 40 years as a successful football coach for various schools

‘This was a very targeted incident,’ Assistant Chief James Beere said during a Friday press conference. 

Beere added that the suspect and Beam knew each other and although they weren’t close, the athletic director was ‘open to helping everybody in our community.’

He did not elaborate on how they knew each other or why the suspect, who is said to have played football at Skyline High School but not when Beam worked there, was on campus on Thursday.

The suspect was taken into custody without any altercation. Police say he was not a Laney College student but was known to loiter on campus.

Tributes have poured in for Beam after the tragic news, with Piedmont Police Chief Frederick Shavies calling him an ‘absolutely incredible human being.’

‘Our hearts are aching,’ Shavies added at Friday’s news conference.

Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said: ‘Coach’s Beam’s legacy isn’t measured in championships or statistics. It’s measured in the thousands of young people he believed in, mentored, and refused to abandon, including my nephew, while at Skyline High school. 

Police believe Beam knew the suspect, who was apprehended early Friday at around 3am 

‘He gave Oakland’s youth their best chance, and he never stopped fighting for them.’

Lee added: ‘Gun violence has stolen the life of a man who dedicated himself to building up the young people of this city.’

One high-profile player Beam coached at Laney College was CJ Anderson, who went on to carve out a memorable NFL career for himself after playing under him in 2009.

The former Broncos running back, who won a Super Bowl in Denver, took to social media earlier on Friday to urge his old coach to ‘keep fighting’.

Anderson posted: ‘Keep fighting. Keep praying Jesus is King always put your hands on Beam please!!!!’