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Police have identified a person of interest in the fatal stabbing of Clay Beathard, the starting quarterback on the Long Island University football team, brother of an NFL player and grandson of a former NFL general manager.
Beathard, 22, and 21-year-old Paul Trapeni III were stabbed Saturday, Dec. 21 at 2:50 a.m. in Nashville, Tennessee during a fight involving several persons outside the Dogwood Bar & Grill at 1907 Division Street, in midtown, according to Metro Nashville Police.
The stabbings appear to have resulted from an argument over a woman that began inside the bar and then turned physical when the parties went outside, police said. The dispute began over an unwanted advance made by a man toward the woman in the bar, police added.
Multiple persons were involved in the outdoor fight during which the two men were both fatally stabbed in their sides.
Beathard, of Thompson Station, Tennessee, and Trapeni, of Franklin, Tennessee, were both transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where they died.
A third stabbing victim, Alvin Jefferson (A.J.) Bethurum, 21, suffered injuries to his eye and arm and is continuing to recover, said police.
Police now say they are searching for 23-year-old Michael Mosley, who has a long rap sheet that includes multiple aggravated burglary, attempted aggravated burglary and drug-related arrests and convictions dating back five years.
Mosley who is strongly believed to have definitive information about the murders and is being sought for questioning only at this time, police said. Mosley has been identified as being present both inside and outside of the Dogwood Bar, including when the fight occurred.
Efforts to locate Mosley, who is last known to have lived in Pegram, Tennessee, have been unsuccessful thus far, police said.
Beathard, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior, appeared in seven games before missing the remainder of the season due to injury this season.
He completed 52-percent of his pass attempts (94-for-182), throwing for 1,071 yards and four touchdowns.
Beathard was the son of country music songwriter Casey Beathard and Susan Beathard.
Clay Beathard's brother, C.J., is a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers picked up an emotional 34-31 win over the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday night after C.J. had returned home to Tennessee prior to the game to be with his family.
”The 49ers family was shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy involving C.J. Beathard’s younger brother, Clayton," the 49ers said in a statement. "We extend our heartfelt sympathies to C.J. and the entire Beathard family as they cope with the unthinkable loss of a loved one.
Another brother, Tucker Beathard, is a country music singer/songwriter.
Grandfather, Bobby Beathard, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after winning four Super Bowls as an NFL general manager with four different teams: the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins and San Diego Chargers.
"Clay was an amazing, big and soft-hearted human being with an undeniable love for the Lord," the Beathard family said in a statement. "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.’
"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."
Clay Beathard is also survived by sisters Channing and Tatum.
LIU football coach Bryan Collins said Clay Beathard had a "love of life, people, especially his teammates" and was a "shining light in our program."
"All of my thoughts and prayers are with the Beathard Family," Collins added. "Clay, you will be remembered always."
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