'Chud the Builder' charged after shooting at Clarksville courthouse
Clarksville contractor Dalton Eatherly, known as "Chud the Builder" online, has been charged with attempted murder, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, following a shooting outside the Montgomery County Court Complex, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said.
Authorities said a physical altercation led to gunfire. Eatherly's livestream captured some of the aftermath of the shooting May 13.
The incident marked Eatherly's second charge this week, following a May 9 arrest in Nashville over a restaurant tab.
One person was taken by Lifeflight to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Eatherly was brought to Vanderbilt of Clarksville Hospital, authorities said.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said they and the police department responded to the scene and it had been secured as of about 1:45 p.m.
"Thanks to the quick actions of our courthouse deputies, this situation was likely kept from becoming much worse," Montgomery County Sheriff John Fuson said in a release. "Their dedication to keeping the courthouse safe was clearly demonstrated today."
The case is under investigation by the Sheriff's Office. As a result of the investigation, the Montgomery County Courts Complex was closed May 14. The complex includes the Historic Court House, at 1 Millennium Plaza, the County Courthouse, at 2 Millennium Plaza and the Montgomery County Annex Building located at 121 S. Third St.
Livestream from 'Chud the Builder' appears to depict aftermath of shooting
Eatherly, 28, is a Clarksville contractor known for posting videos of himself calling people racial slurs and flashing his firearm.
According to the courthouse docket, Eatherly was scheduled to appear in a case brought against him by Midland Credit Management.
Eatherly's video doesn’t show anything but a pale red screen, but it has clear audio and a link to Eatherly’s streaming account at the bottom of the screen. He also provides his name and a spelling to first responders while the video is running.
In the video, Eatherly can be heard speaking to a police officer.
Eatherly said he walked up to a person who was pointing and laughing at him. The person told him to walk away, noting that if Eatherly made racial comments toward him, he’d hit Eatherly, he is heard telling the officer.
“He hit me. Started wailing on me,” Eatherly told the officer. “Even after I had to defend myself by shooting him.”
Another voice began listing several injuries. Eatherly suffered a wound to the left shoulder, a slight abrasion on the head and some scrapes, the voice said.
“What’s up with this one,” someone else asks.
“He’s got a shot to the stomach,” the man responds, commenting on injuries to the other person.
“I just pray that he’s going to be alright,” Eatherly said. “I tried to walk away from him. This is what happens when rich people are saying you’ll get rich if you hit this guy. They’re all publicly saying, if you assault this guy, we’ll make you rich.”
Eatherly asks paramedics how bad he was injured.
“Did I shoot myself, or did it graze,” Eatherly asked.
“It penetrated, yeah,” a voice answers.
Dexter Mines, Montgomery County Sheriff candidate: 'We should have made an arrest'
During a town hall meeting following the shooting Montgomery County Sheriff candidate Dexter Mines said the Sheriff's Office should have arrested Eatherly on the grounds of a Tennessee state law that protects against the intimidation or discrimination through verbal abuse.
"If nothing else as law enforcement we should have made an arrest, according to (the law) and let the courts work it out," Mines said. "We could prevent this and should have never happened."
Mines is referring to Tennessee Code 39-17-309, that "declares that it is the right of every person regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion or national origin, to be secure and protected from fear, intimidation, harassment and bodily injury caused by the actions of groups and individuals."
Chud earlier was charged in Nashville
The shooting marks Eatherly's second charge this week, following a May 9 arrest in Nashville after police said he skipped out on his tab May 9 at the Bob's Steak and Chop, a restaurant at the Omni Hotel on Rep. John Lewis Way South.
"The defendant is a live streamer who filmed content including racially charged content on Broadway for social media," his arrest affidavit said.
Eatherly ordered two entrees, cocktails and appetizers totaling $371, according to the affidavit.
The restaurant asked Eatherly not to livestream and when they realized he did so anyway, they asked him to stop.
"He became disruptive and started making racial statements, yelling, screaming and otherwise creating a scene at the location,” the affidavit said.
Eatherly then said, "I'm not paying if you are kicking me out," the affidavit said. He then left the restaurant.
He was later arrested walking on Broadway near 2nd Avenue South.
He was charged with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
He’s scheduled to appear in court on those charges in July.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.