This is a developing story. Watch this page for more updates.
(Nov. 13 4:35 p.m.) Update — A source close to the athletics department confirmed on background with The Citizen that John Beam is receiving emergency care at Highland Hospital.
A warning from the Peralta Community College District reported an “active shooter” at the Laney Field House at 12:16 p.m today.
According to reporting from The San Francisco Chronicle, Laney athletic director John Beam was the victim of the shooting. The Chronicle reported that he “was believed to have been alive when taken away in an ambulance.” The article also states the suspected shooter “fled the scene” in a black hoodie.
“At approximately noon, a senior member of our athletic staff was shot on campus in the Laney Field House,” read an official emailed statement from the district to community members. “The individual was immediately transported to a local hospital, and we are keeping them—and their loved ones—in our hearts during this incredibly difficult time.”
The district did not immediately confirm the identity of the victim, though throughout the day other outlets confirmed that John Beam had been shot.
Abdul Pridgen, the district’s interim director of community safety, added in a phone call with The Citizen that district administrators were “waiting for preliminary information from [police] to see what [the district] can share publicly.”
He called the incident “a surreal experience.”
No additional information has been made public about the shooter at time of writing.
A campus-wide lockdown went into effect immediately and was lifted at 1:00 p.m. In-person classes have been canceled for the rest of the day.
“OPD has confirmed there is no longer an active threat on campus,” read the emailed follow-up alert. “Laney College Campus is closed for the rest of the day. All in-person classes are cancelled.” The message advised recipients to continue to “avoid” the Fieldhouse.
The Fieldhouse is located on 333 E 8th St in Oakland, near the edge of Laney’s campus.
Reporters from The Citizen observed that all entrances to the Fieldhouse are currently blocked and that police are still present on the scene at time of writing.
An officer on the scene declined to give further information, stating that OPD was “trying to keep everything safe.”
The shooting occurred a day after a presentation from Pridgen outlining his plan to transition to an “in-house” security force which would include armed “sworn” officers on-campus.
District chancellor Tammeil Gilkerson declined to give an additional comment for this article.
News Editor Ivan Saravia, Managing Editor Eliot Faine, Copy Editors Romi Bales, Staff Writer Erik Bracken, and Editor in Chief Desmond Meagley contributed to this reporting.
(Nov. 26 7:28 p.m.) Editor’s Note: Alerts from PCCD related to the shooting appear to have been delivered to some recipients at slightly different times. The earliest alert announcing the lockdown received by The Citizen’s reporters came at 12:16 p.m. Some records of the emergency alerts reflect a one minute difference in the timing of the initial alert between different recipients. This article has been updated and The Citizen is investigating further.