The younger brother of San Francisco 49ers backup quarterback C.J. Beathard — Clayton Beathard — was one of two men who were fatally stabbed during an early-morning fight on Saturday outside a Nashville bar, authorities said.
Police announced Clayton Beathard, 22, and Paul Trapeni III, 21, were taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where they were pronounced dead.
"He will be missed. That is an understatement. Nobody light’s shined like his when he smiled." Clay Beathard's family issues statement. https://t.co/zz90fXVPSb
— Tennessean (@Tennessean) December 21, 2019
From NFL.com:
Police said the argument began over a woman inside the bar and turned into a larger fight involving more people outside. Beathard and Trapeni were stabbed in their sides, according to authorities. A third stabbing victim was treated and released from a hospital. Police say they are searching for suspects in the stabbings.
The 49ers said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" to hear of Clayton Beathard's death. The team also released a video in honor of Beathard's family.
Statement from the San Francisco 49ers pic.twitter.com/w1mjxV1AeB
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 21, 2019
For the Beathard family ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Td26FyOEND
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 22, 2019
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan began his postgame news conference addressing the death of Beathard's brother.
"Just want to say how much we appreciate the Beathard family," Shanahan said. "What happened last night was very tough on C.J. and his family and was a tragedy. Such a great family, we've been with C.J. here for three years and he's as good as any person I've been around. Their family is unbelievable.
"I never got a chance to meet Clay but knowing how his parents are, knowing how C.J. is, knowing the stuff they've told me about him, he was an unbelievably special person. So, just our hearts and prayers are out with them and I know his dad reached out to us with texts, just how great everyone's been on social media and just the respect everyone's giving their family. He can't appreciate it enough but I think everyone understands how horrible the thing that happened to their family last night [was]. Our prayers are with him."
The 49ers' locker room was emotional after Saturday's 34-31 win over the Rams.
The #49ers locker room recaps #LARvsSF and sends their thoughts to the Beathard family. pic.twitter.com/bXe2rzhGkL
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 22, 2019