Tragedy struck the 49ers family early Saturday morning when the younger brother of quarterback C.J. Beathard was fatally stabbed outside a Nashville bar, according to police.
Clayton Beathard, 22, and Paul Trapeni III, 21, were transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where they died, Nashville police announced in a statement. A third stabbing victim, a 21-year-old man, was treated and released.
Clayton Beathard was a junior quarterback this season at Long Island University. He is the younger brother of 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard, the son of country music songwriter Casey Beathard and the grandson of NFL Hall of Fame executive Bobby Beathard.
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The 49ers issued the following statement after learning the news:
“The 49ers family was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy involving C.J. Beathard’s younger brother, Clayton. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to C.J. and the entire Beathard family as they cope with the unthinkable loss of a loved one. C.J. has traveled home to join his family knowing he has the support of our entire organization as they grieve the passing of Clayton.”
The Beathard family issued the following statement to The Tennessean:
"It’s times like this I wish had Instagram and social media because the love and prayers have been so overwhelming. We cannot possibly thank you at the rate they come in texts and phone calls. Clay was an amazing, big and soft hearted human being with an undeniable love for the Lord. He had his family's, friends' and teammates' backs even to a fault. I wish he would have been more inclined to take the high road but he hated 'wrong.'
San Francisco 49ers
"Yes, he was stubborn sometimes but mostly because his beliefs were strong. He lived a full life except for the chance at being the incredible father I knew he would have been. He loved kids, underdogs and the less fortunate. His little sister was his world and his love and pride for his older brothers was off the charts. He will be missed. That is an understatement. Nobody's light shined like his when he smiled.
"That is what we will hold in our hearts because we know he is smiling now. He always worried about all of our welfare, never his own. I say that to say, to those who knew and loved him, please lean into the Lord’s strength, trust in the Lord and carry on. Carry him with you like a chip on your shoulder, like the one he carried. He loved people saying he could do something. That’s where he thrived mostly.
"He was never afraid of a challenge so please, all of you, take on the next challenge with faith in God and knowing Clay is smiling down and has your back. I love all of you and I love for the gift he was to us for a little while. I beg that your thoughts and prayers go out to the whoever committed this act but the Trapeni family also. Paul was Clay's teammate and friend at BGA who was also taken in the incident."
Nashville police reported that the fatal stabbings appear to have resulted from an argument over a woman that began inside Dogwood Bar. The argument "turned physical when the parties went outside,” police disclosed.
Midtown Hills Precinct detectives are asking for the public’s help to identify a man in a surveillance photo. That man is being sought for questioning in the fatal stabbings, and anyone who recognizes him from the photo is asked to contact Nashville police's "Crime Stoppers" at 615-742-7463.