Oakland – At Friday’s hearing to determine suspect Cedric Irving Jr. ‘s placement at a state hospital, the prosecution and defense did not agree on whether to involuntarily medicate him. Irving is in custody for the murder of former Laney College athletic director John Beam.
The prosecution argued that, because the physicians who evaluated Irving concluded he is a danger to others, Irving should be medicated while receiving treatment at a state hospital.
The court has determined that Irving will be committed to a state facility, but it remains unknown which one. He will remain at Santa Rita Jail until a decision is made on whether or not he will be ordered to medicate, despite his refusal.
The prosecution and defense agreed on Irving’s mental competency ruling, but public defender Sydney Bird Levin argued that, under the California constitution, Irving has the right to refuse treatment.
Assistant District Attorney Danielle London revealed details at Friday’s hearing from Irving’s mental competency evaluations, including an allegation that he “got into a fight” with his cellmate sometime in December, whom Irving claimed was “possessed” by Beam.
London said one evaluator recommended that it would be best for Irving “not to have a cellmate” due to the fight.
According to London, one evaluator determined that Irving suffers from schizophrenia and delusions. She added that Irving refused psychotropic medications and denied he has a mental illness.
The report stated that Irving claimed to have issues eating and sleeping, due to thoughts of Beam “touching or choking” him. London also said that the physician’s report included that Irving claimed he was “suffering the witchcraft” of Beam.
According to London’s account of the evaluation, Irving believes that Beam is able to “possess anyone.” Irving also believes that he is meant to fight these possessed people.
London believed that the mental evaluations conducted by the physicians found “sufficient evidence” for the judge to grant the involuntary medication order. Another evaluator found Irving “incapable” of consenting to medication.
Presiding judge Armando Pastran, Jr., ultimately decided he needed more time to review the motions submitted by the prosecution and the defense. Pastran will make the decision regarding Irving’s placement and medicated treatment on May 12.
After the placement decision is made, the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) “must begin substantive competency-restoration services” within 28 days of a commitment order due to a constitutional requirement established by the California Court of Appeals in the case Stiavetti v. Clendenin. The DSH reports a waitlist of 275 “incompetent to stand trial patients” waiting for their placement in a state hospital as of the 2026-27 Governor’s Budget.
Regaining mental competency at a state hospital
According to the Department of State Hospitals website, treatment for Irving may consist of educating him on his criminal proceedings, including “what [he is] charged with, the pleas available, the elements of a plea bargain, the roles of the officers of the court, the role of evidence in a trial, and [his] constitutional protections.”
He will then participate in a knowledge test of the criminal proceedings, followed by a mock trial.
During his treatment, another competency evaluation can happen at any point. If he passes, a forensic report will be sent to the court stating that he is competent to stand trial.
If, after two years of treatment, he is unable to gain competency, Irving may be placed into state conservatorship.
Key details about the case so far
Beam was fatally shot on Nov. 13, 2025 at the Laney Fieldhouse and was pronounced dead the following morning. According to his autopsy report, obtained by The Citizen, Beam was shot “after a brief altercation.”
The nature of the altercation, in addition to other details surrounding the shooting, are still unclear.
Irving was arrested on Nov. 14, 2025 at the San Leandro BART station, and has been in custody at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, CA, ever since.
Court records show Irving was evaluated for his mental competency to proceed to trial by three alienists. He was ruled mentally incompetent by the court at his April 17 hearing.
Irving’s next hearing will be on May 12 at 1:30 p.m. at the René C. Davidson Courthouse at 1225 Fallon Street in Oakland, CA.
