CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dalton Eatherly, a man who identifies himself as Chud the Builder and is known for livestreaming racially derogatory remarks towards Black individuals in public spaces, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident outside a courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, according to local authorities.
The incident reportedly unfolded as Eatherly, 28, became engaged in a confrontation with an unidentified man, resulting in gunfire, as stated by District Attorney Robert J. Nash. Specific details surrounding Eatherly's presence at the courthouse and the circumstances that incited the altercation remain unclear at this time.
Both Eatherly and the other man, whose race has not been officially confirmed, were transported to hospitals for medical treatment. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office reported that both individuals are in stable condition.
In addition to attempted murder, Eatherly faces additional charges including employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. He is currently being held at the Montgomery County jail while awaiting an arraignment hearing.
Witness Claire Martin, who works in an attorney’s office nearby, described Eatherly as a figure well known for instigating chaos and deriding individuals on the street for reactionary entertainment. Martin remarked, He’s not a contributing member of society.
In a message posted on the website Pump.fun, Eatherly later claimed that he shot the man in self-defense, suggesting that he was struck first during the altercation. He appeared visibly bandaged in the video, questioning whether he had injured himself or if a bullet had grazed him.
Prior to the incident, Eatherly was expected to participate in a court hearing over a debt of $3,300 owed to a credit company, with court records indicating that the case remains open.
Eatherly's history includes livestreaming confrontations where he has directed racial slurs towards Black individuals, stating things like You chimpin' out, and asserting his actions as exercises of free speech in America.
Furthermore, Eatherly is also facing charges from a separate incident at a Nashville steakhouse, where he allegedly became unruly and made racial remarks after being asked not to stream inside the establishment. His previous arrest for theft of services and disorderly conduct from that incident underscores his contentious public behavior.
Local community members have expressed concern over Eatherly’s conduct, considering it hate-driven rather than an exercise of free speech.
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that one of the two involved in Wednesday's shooting was taken to Vanderbilt of Clarksville Hospital while the other was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The hospital has declined to share specific information regarding the victims due to privacy laws.
**Note:** This story has been updated to clarify that Clarksville is located northwest of Nashville, not northeast.
