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The man accused of killing John Beam allegedly told investigators he believed the former Last Chance U coach had performed witchcraft on him.

Cedric Irving Jr. has been charged with murder after authorities accused him of fatally shooting Beam on the campus of Laney College in Oakland, Calif., according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office.

Beam was a highly respected football coach at Laney, where he led the program for decades before retiring from coaching in 2024. At the time of his death, he was still serving as the school’s athletic director.

Citing law enforcement sources, the San Francisco Chronicle, The Mercury News and KTVU reported that Irving allegedly told investigators he believed Beam had used witchcraft on him. The Chronicle also reported that those sources believe Irving was “fixated” on Beam before the killing.

Prosecutors said Irving has been charged with murder and the use of a firearm. If convicted of murder, he faces 50 years to life in prison. It is not immediately clear whether he has entered a plea.

“On behalf of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, and my personal family, I wish to express our deepest condolences to Coach John Beam’s family,” District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson said in a statement. “Coach Beam represents the best of Oakland. Just as Coach Beam’s love for community has been felt for decades, so will his loss.”

Beam and his Laney team gained national attention when they were featured in the 2020 season of the Netflix docuseries Last Chance U.

In Oakland, Beam was widely regarded as a mentor and community pillar, with many local officials honoring his impact on generations of students and athletes.

“Coach Beam is a giant in Oakland — a mentor, an educator, and a lifeline for thousands of young people,” Mayor Barbara Lee said in a statement following the shooting. “For over 40 years, he has shaped leaders on and off the field, and our community is shaken alongside his family.”

Police said Beam died a day after he was shot in the head on Thursday, Nov. 13. Law enforcement officials described the shooting as targeted.

“This was a very targeted incident,” Oakland Police Assistant Chief James Beere said. “I will say Coach Beam, although they did not have a close relationship, was open to helping everybody in our community, and this is not uncommon for him to have a relationship with someone that he would think needs help.”