Clayton Beathard, Brother Of NFL Player CJ & Country Singer Tucker, Stabbed To Death In Double Murder

What began as an argument at a little bar in Nashville became a tragedy that affected so many lives…

Local News Channel 5 reports that in the early hours of Saturday morning at Nashville’s Dogwood bar, an altercation arose which led to the stabbing deaths of two men.

According to police, the disagreement began after “an unwanted advancement made by a man toward a woman.” At least four men took the conflict outside around 3 a.m.; three suffered stab wounds in the ensuing fight and were taken to Vanderbilt Medical University Center.

One man, 21-year-old AJ Bethurum, suffered injuries to his eye and arm but is recovering. The other two, Clayton Beathard and Paul Trapeni III, died from their injuries.

If the name Beathard sounds familiar, that’s not a coincidence; the family have been making their name in sports and music for decades. His grandfather is NFL hall-of-famer Bobby Beathard; his father is Grammy-nominated songwriter Casey Beathard.

More recently you may be familiar with one of his brothers, country singer Tucker Beathard.

His other brother, CJ Beathard, is a backup quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers.

CJ Beathard and family. / (c) CJ Beathard/Instagram

The team, some of whom knew Clayton, had to play Saturday night after hearing the news. In a statement, the team said:

“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.”

After the game, the 49ers dedicated their win to his memory.

Clay’s parents, Casey and Susan Beathard, released a statement mourning their son:

“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.’ Yes, he was stubborn sometimes but mostly because his beliefs were strong.”

Interesting they chose to bring that up. We wonder if they were told more details about the fight than the press was? It certainly sound like they believe Clay was killed trying to defend the woman at the bar. Hmm.

Their moving statement continues:

“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.”

So sad.

Police are still searching for those responsible. They released a clip of the surveillance footage from the bar that night.