An internet personality known as “Chud the Builder” has been charged with attempted murder following an alleged shooting incident outside a Tennessee courthouse, authorities reported.
The individual, identified as 28-year-old Dalton Eatherly, reportedly shot a man during a confrontation on Wednesday outside a courthouse in Clarksville. District Attorney Robert J. Nash confirmed that Eatherly also accidentally shot himself during the altercation.
Eatherly, notorious for his online presence where he gains attention by using offensive racial slurs, was attending court for a civil lawsuit concerning unpaid debts. This appearance came just days after he was arrested for failing to pay a $400 restaurant bill, an incident during which he insisted on continuing his live stream.
During the altercation, Eatherly live-streamed from the scene, attributing his decision to fire the weapon to the other man — identified by witnesses as Black — who challenged him over his inflammatory online behavior.
According to Eatherly, the man and several others mocked him as he passed by and threatened him if he began vocalizing his racially charged views.
“He said, ‘You start saying all that chimp out stuff to me and ‘I’mma hit you,’ and then he hit me, started wailing on me,” Eatherly explained in the video, as reported by CNN. He has a history of making derogatory remarks about Black individuals, referring to them as “chimps” in multiple videos.
âHe said, âYou start saying all that chimp out sât to me and âimma hit you,â and he hit me, he started whaling on me,â Eatherly, who has multiple videos online referring to black people as chimps, said in the video, CNN reported.
Then, Eatherly bizarrely tried to pin blame on ârich peopleâ goading strangers into harming him. âTheyâre all publicly saying âif yâall assault this guy, weâll make you richâ. The fâk,â he said.
The victim was medically evacuated by LifeFlight and is recovering in stable condition, officials said.
Eatherly also suffered whatâs been described as a âgrazeâ wound on his arm and Nash said it appears he accidentally shot himself during the fracas. He was detained at the scene.
Heâs additionally been charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, officials said. Heâs being held at the Montgomery County jail until bond will be set at an arraignment hearing, according to the county sheriffâs office.
In his livestream, he insisted he shot in self-defense.
Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson said that âthis kind of violence wonât be tolerated, and our office will work to make sure those responsible are held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.â
The mustached antagonist was supposed to appear at court on Wednesday afternoon for a civil case, where he is being sued by a debt and credit collector, according to court documents obtained by ClarksvilleNow.
Just last Friday, the self-described âfree-speech patriotâ was arrested for allegedly harassing strangers at an upscale steakhouse in Nashville.
He reportedly began shouting racial slurs at the restaurant before announcing he would not pay his $400 bill even after polishing off the entire meal.
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