2 Dead During Confrontation at Nashville Bar
Nashville TN December 22 2019
Two people are dead and a third injured when a confrontation at a midtown area bar turned deadly early Saturday morning.
Metro Nashville police officers have identified Clayton Beathard, 22, and Paul Trapeni III, 21, both of Williamson County, as the two men who were fatally stabbed outside of a Midtown bar Saturday morning.
Beathard, who played football at Long Island University and Battle Ground Academy, was the brother of NFL quarterback C.J. Beathard of the San Francisco 49ers, brother of musician Tucker Beathard, son of country music songwriter Casey Beathard and grandson of NFL Hall of Famer Bobby Beathard, who won four Super Bowls as a general manager.
“The fatal stabbings appear to have resulted from an argument over a woman that began inside Dogwood Bar and then turned physical when the parties went outside,” MNPD confirmed in a press release.
“Multiple persons were involved in the outdoor fight during which the two men were both fatally stabbed in their sides. A third stabbing victim, a 21-year-old man, was treated and released.”
Dispatchers received the call Saturday at 2:52 a.m. at 1903 Division Street, outside of Hopsmith Tavern and The Dogwood. Police said the incident happened as a result of an altercation leaving the bar.
As of 9:30 a.m., police tape still encircled the area outside of The Dogwood.
“”It’s times like this I wish had Instagram and social media because the love and prayers have been so overwhelming,” Beathard’s parents Casey and Susan Beathard said in a statement to The Tennessean. “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.'”
His family added that they wouldn’t forget his smile or how he treated his siblings.
“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.”
Metro Nashville detectives are seeking a person for questioning, shown in this surveillance photo, in connection to the fatal stabbing Saturday morning outside a Midtown bar.
Police still consider this an active investigation and are looking for male suspects with black clothing and facial hair.
“Midtown Hills Precinct Detectives are working the case,” Metro Nashville Police Department Capt. Harmon Hunsicker said. “They have some leads and seeking information from anyone witnessing or having information about the incident.”
The two men previously went to Battle Ground Academy, where counselors will be made available at 3 p.m. at the student center
“We are devastated by this tragic loss to our community,” BGA Head of School Will Kessler said. “No one should have to endure such a terrible loss of loved ones. We pray for the families and their friends for strength, support, and guidance through this most difficult time.”
Chapman Finn, a former teammate of both men, said he would remember their character.
“They were both very good friends and would stand up for those they were close with no matter what,” Finn said.
BGA assistant football coach Scott Semptimphelter remembered both men playing on the field and shared the shock he felt hearing the news about his former players.
“Clay…. was a quarterback by position,” Semptimphelter said, “but he was the toughest kid on the field – the kid you loved to coach. Paul was one of those kids that just gave you everything he had every minute on the field. He was a true competitor. He loved playing. He wasn’t the greatest athlete, but just outworked everybody.” Clayton Beathard was named the Tennessee Titans Division II-A Mr. Football Back of the Year in 2014.
Metro Nashville Councilman Freddie O’Connell — whose district this incident happened — said he had gotten complaints about that area of Division Street but not specifically that bar.
“When you have a collection of establishments that seem intent on behaving badly themselves,
you expect bad behavior to happen eventually,” he said. “It’s tragic and terrifying to see this happen in an area we don’t typically see this type of violence.
I wish I had more to say by way of how we are handling public safety in the city against a backdrop of a city in financial distress.”
Tennessean
