CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dalton Eatherly, 28, known online as Chud the Builder, was charged with attempted murder after a shooting incident outside a courthouse in Clarksville on Wednesday. The confrontation reportedly involved Eatherly and another man, though the specifics of the encounter remain unclear.
According to District Attorney Robert J. Nash, both individuals were taken to hospitals for treatment, where their conditions were stabilized. Eatherly's charges also include employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
Eyewitnesses described Eatherly as a controversial figure known for antagonizing people and filming confrontations where he has made racially charged statements, particularly aimed at Black individuals. Claire Martin, an attorney near the courthouse, stated that Eatherly yells racial slurs and is not viewed positively by local citizens.
In a livestreamed video uploaded shortly after the shooting, Eatherly claimed he acted in self-defense, asking if he had shot himself. His presence at the courthouse was tied to an ongoing civil case related to a debt owed to a credit company, although it remains uncertain whether he attended the hearing.
Local reports also indicate that Eatherly was arrested recently for disorderly conduct at a Nashville steakhouse, where he allegedly refused to pay a bill and made offensive remarks while streaming. This pattern of behavior has led many in the community to express concerns about potential violence stemming from his provocations.
The case sheds light on the larger issues of hate speech and the potential for violence in public forums, raising questions about the balance between freedom of speech and public safety.
