CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dalton Eatherly, known online as Chud the Builder, was arrested and charged with attempted murder after a shooting broke out outside a courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Wednesday. Eatherly, 28, became involved in a confrontation that reportedly escalated after he made racially derogatory comments. The outcome resulted in gunfire, sending both Eatherly and another unidentified man to the hospital, where they remain in stable condition.
Witnesses describe Eatherly as someone notorious for antagonizing people using racial slurs while livestreaming. A local resident claiming to have seen Eatherly's video content stated, He’s not a contributing member of society. This incident comes as part of Eatherly's repeated controversial acts, including a recent incident at a Nashville steakhouse where he refused to pay a bill and made further racial remarks.
In a video following the shooting, Eatherly suggested he acted in self-defense, questioning whether he might have shot himself instead. The confrontation was reportedly linked to his scheduled court appearance regarding a debt owed to a credit company. As the incident raises questions about race, speech, and public safety, it also highlights ongoing concerns regarding the influence of social media on real-world actions.
