"My thoughts are with Coach John Beam and his loved ones. We are praying for him. 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."
"Anyone who knows Coach Beam knows how incredible a human he was. He always showed me so much love and encouragement. This was senseless and truly heartbreaking."
John Beam spent over four decades coaching football in Oakland at Skyline High School and Laney College, guiding many athletes to Division I programs and the NFL. Beam sent more than a dozen players to the NFL, including several who played in the Super Bowl. He was shot on the Laney College campus just before noon and taken to Highland Hospital in critical condition as friends and family kept vigil. The Oakland Police Department arrested a suspect early the following morning. Acting Chief James Beere confirmed Beam's death at a noon press conference. The community responded with shock, praise, and mourning.
Read at The Oaklandside
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