A college athletic director in Oakland and recent star of a Netflix documentary has been rushed to hospital after being shot on campus.
According to ABC7 News, John Beam – who is the Athletic Director at Laney College – is being treated for a gunshot wound in hospital following the incident on Thursday.
The college was subsequently placed on lockdown before those safety measures were lifted later in the day. The campus is now closed for the rest of the day.
Acting Oakland Police Chief James Beere said the shots fired were reported just before noon on Thursday.
Police are still believed to be searching for the suspect, who allegedly fled the scene after the shooting. They are described as a male of unknown race, who was wearing dark clothing and a black hoodie.
Police had initially responded to the incident as if it there was an active shooter, but have since determined that was not the case.
Laney College athletic director John Beam is in hospital after being shot while on campus
Beam starred in 2020 Netflix docuseries ‘Last Chance U’ while serving as football head coach
‘The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is our highest priority, and we are working closely with police and emergency personnel to ensure the campus remains protected,’ the Peralta Community College District said in a statement.
‘This is a frightening moment for our community. We encourage everyone to follow official instructions, and rely only on verified communications from the District and law enforcement.’
Beam recently starred in the fifth series of Netflix’s college sports docuseries ‘Last Chance U’ in 2020, when he was head coach of the school’s football team.
After starting as a running backs coach in 2004 and 2005, he was promoted to offensive coordinator before leading an explosive offense to three conference championships and five straight bowl game appearances.
In 2012 Beam stepped up to become head coach, guiding the team to two league titles and four bowl games.
Prior to his time as Laney College head 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 a move to Oakland Beam then 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.
