Nashville police searching for 4 persons of interest in connection to fatal stabbing

Emily R. West | Nashville Tennessean

Show Caption Hide Caption Two men fatally stabbed and a third victim wounded outside of a local Nashville bar Clayton Beathard and Paul Trapeni III were killed, after an altercation with four people inside of the Dogwood Bar on Division Street.

UPDATE: Nashville police on Monday said Michael Mosley, 23, would be charged with criminal homicide in the fatal stabbings.

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.

Police identified four persons of interest Saturday night: three men and one women. Police used surveillance video from The Dogwood Bar to identify them.

Two of the men — one wearing a Nike sweatshirt, the other a puffy jacket — are seen in the video standing in front of a booth in the center of the bar. The other man and the woman are at the bottom of the video and eventually join their friends in front of the booth.

Nashville stabbing: Surveillance video shows persons of interest before Beathard, Trapeni killed Police is asking for the public's assistance in identifying four people, three men and a woman, wanted for questioning in the fatal stabbing of Clayton Beathard and Paul Trapeni III on Friday night in Midtown.

The victims

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.

Trapeni was a student at Rhodes College, according to a Facebook post by the school's student government group.

"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, 21, remains at Vanderbilt with injuries to his eye and arm, police said Saturday night.

More: Midtown Nashville stabbing: Who are Clay Beathard and Paul Trapeni?

What happened on Division Street

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 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."

The two men previously went to Battle Ground Academy, where counselors were 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 remembers 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.

Former BGA football head coach Roc Batten, now at Ensworth, said, "It was such an honor to coach a kid like Clay. Of course he had many accolades on the field, but beyond that he was a great person who had such a big heart. I’ll remember him for his confidence and poise under pressure, his big smile, and his leadership. He had a presence about him and people wanted to be around him. ... My son looked up to him and he was just the kind of young man I wanted my son to be around and aspire to be. I love his entire family and I am grieving with them over his untimely passing."

"Paul was a tough player who played and outworked people on the field," Batten said. "Off the field he was a great person that was fun to be around. He had such a humorous personality and made others smile and laugh. He was a good friend to others and a great teammate. I was fortunate to coach a young man who was so passionate about football and a good friend to many."

Metro Nashville Councilman Freddie O'Connell — in whose district the stabbing occurred — said he has gotten complaints about that area of Division Street, but not specifically The Dogwood.

"It’s tragic and terrifying to see this happen in an area we don’t typically see this type of violence," O'Connell said. "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."

Anyone knowing the identities of these persons is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463.

Tom Kreager contributed to this story.

Reach Emily West at erwest@tennessean.com or 615-613-1380 and on Twitter at @emwest22.