49ers Play with Heavy Hearts After Death Of QB CJ Beathard's Brother
SANTA CLARA (KPIX) - The 49ers played with heavy hearts Saturday night and with the Beathard Family on their minds. In the end, they pulled out 34-31 victory against the Rams.
The team was struck by tragedy of the worst kind early Saturday morning. Quarterback CJ Beathard's younger brother Clayton was killed in a bar fight.
"It's hard to lose a family member, but right now during Christmas tonight, and the tragedy that happened with him this morning is sad," said Tina Chavez of Chico. "Want him to know that all the fans here are praying for him and his family."
According to police, 22-year-old Beathard and several others got into an argument over a woman in a Nashville bar. The alternation moved outside, and that's when he and two others were stabbed. Beathard and another man were pronounced dead at the hospital.
Police were asking for the public's help in identifying four people wanted for questioning. They released surveillance video of three men and a woman at the bar.
"Pretty sad that something like that has to happen, especially on a day like today," said BJ Marquez of Selma.
Beathard's parents said in a statement to The Tennessean newspaper: "He will be missed. That is an understatement. Nobody's light shined like his when he smiled."
"It's all of us, we are all one family, so our prayers go out to you and your family," said Greg Williams of Las Vegas. "We here for you, one family, Niner Nation."
The team said in a statement that the 49ers family was "shocked and deeply saddened to learn of the tragedy."
Saturday night, on top of the 34-31 win over the Rams, the '49ers Faithful' shared another bond in light of the sudden loss.
