Shooting at Laney College leaves John Beam, legendary football coach, in critical condition

A shooting at Laney College critically injured John Beam, the athletic program director and esteemed football coach. The Oakland Police Department confirmed that the suspect, a man dressed in a black hooded sweater, remains at large following the incident. Beam was transported to Highland Hospital and is reported to be in critical condition. The campus was placed on lockdown, affecting students from 10 local high schools visiting for a field trip. Mental health and counseling services will be offered as classes are set to resume tomorrow.

Mark Johnson, spokesperson for the Peralta Community College District, lamented the community's devastation over the incident. This shooting follows a separate incident at Skyline High School, where a student was injured the previous day, raising alarms about safety in Oakland schools. Beam has a long history of mentoring young athletes, making this event particularly impactful for the community.