OAKLAND, Calif. (NewsNation) — The 27-year-old man charged with shooting the widely beloved and former Oakland community college football coach John Beam made an initial court appearance Tuesday and will continue to be held without bail.
The hearing was brief, lasting only about 15 minutes, during which Irving Jr. remained stoic and focused on the judge. He did not enter a plea, as his public defender requested a continuance of the case.
Cedric Irving Jr. has been charged with murder and several enhancements in Beam’s death, and he could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted, Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said at a news conference Monday.
Irving did not speak and could not be seen by most people in the courtroom as he was inside an enclosed area for defendants. His attorney, Sydney Levin of the county’s public defender’s office, said Irving was waiving a formal arraignment and the judge granted her request to enter a plea Dec. 16.
Prosecutors have not provided a motive for the shooting at Laney College, which is in downtown Oakland. Irving has no criminal record, the district attorney said.
The courtroom on Tuesday was packed with reporters and friends and family of the legendary coach, who craned to get a look at Irving.
Beam, 66, was a giant in the local community, a father figure who forged deep relationships with his players while fielding a team that regularly competed for championships. The Netflix docuseries “Last Chance U” focused on Beam and the Laney Eagles in its 2020 season. He’d most recently been serving as the school’s athletic director after retiring from coaching last year.
Officers arrived at Laney College before noon Thursday to find Beam shot in the head at the athletics field house. He was treated at a hospital, but died the following day from his injuries.
Beam had raised concerns about security at the field house, citing a nearby fire and a previous break-in, according to the Peralta Community College District’s student-run news outlet, The Citizen.
At a community forum the day before he was shot, Beam said he felt the campus was less safe after the district in 2020 ended a contract with the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office for armed deputies. The college now uses unarmed guards.
Irving was arrested at a commuter rail station just after 3 a.m. Friday. He was carrying the firearm used to shoot Beam, and he admitted to carrying out the shooting, according to the probable cause document.
Oakland police say the shooting was “very targeted.”
NewsNation local affiliate KRON in San Francisco and The Associated Press contributed to this report.