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17h ago

Oakland Honors John Beam at Sold-Out Memorial as Legal Case Begins

The sold-out service follows a suspect's arrest, with the case now in its early court phase.

Laney College football coach John Beam reacts after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before the Oakland Athletics take on the San Francisco Giants in an MLB game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2019. Beam and his Laney College football team will be featured on the next season of Netflix’s hit documentary series “Last Chance U.” (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)

Overview

  • A public celebration of life is being held Saturday at the Henry J. Kaiser Center for the Arts, with ABC7 streaming the event after in-person tickets sold out.
  • Beam, 66, died in November after being shot at Laney College, where he led the football program for years before becoming athletic director and gaining national recognition on Netflix's Last Chance U.
  • The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has charged 27-year-old Cedric Irving in Beam’s killing, and court records indicate his attorney may pursue a mental-health defense.
  • Irving, a former Laney College student who did not play for Beam, has made an initial court appearance as the case proceeds.
  • Family members, including his wife Nanci and daughters Monica and Sonjha, were expected alongside former players and community members, following earlier vigils and a December memorial walk.