For former Skyline High School and NFL player William Blackwell Jr., the news of Coach John Beam's death has been devastating.

"A lot of memories here," Blackwell said, walking around the Skyline football field where he played three years for Beam.

"I started to cry. Still in shock, hurt, angry, disappointed. [There are] still questions around why," he said as he reflected on the moment he learned of the killing.

Blackwell played for Beam in the early 1990s before earning a scholarship to San Diego State University. Beam continued to look out for him even after he left for college.

"My first year, the [San Diego State football] coaches got fired. And [Coach Beam] was worried about how was that going to affect me. He flew down [to see me]. He was coming to make sure that I was alrig

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