Controversial livestreamer 'Chud the Builder' shot, charged with attempted murder
Controversial livestreamer "Chud the Builder" has been charged with attempted murder following an alleged physical altercation that left two people, including himself, shot outside at Tennessee courthouse.
The contractor and livestreamer, whose real name is Dalton Eatherly, was detained after law enforcement said he and another man got into a fight on May 13 that escalated into gunfire at the Montgomery County Court Complex in Clarksville.
The city is about 50 miles northwest of Nashville.
During the confrontation, a man was shot in the stomach and transported by medical helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where officials said on May 14 he remained in stable condition.
Eatherly, 28, was also injured in an apparent self-inflicted injury, and taken to Vanderbilt of Clarksville Hospital for treatment. After his release, he was booked at the Montgomery County Jail.
"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 statement following the incident. "Their dedication to keeping the courthouse safe was clearly demonstrated today."
Eatherly is known for posting videos of himself calling people racial slurs and flashing his firearm.
What happened at the courthouse?
About 1:20 p.m. local time, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Clarksville Police Department officers responded to a report of shots fired at the courthouse.
Arriving officers detained two men involved "in a physical altercation that escalated to gunfire," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
Both men were transported to hospitals for to be treated for gunshot wounds. It was not immediately known if the men knew each other.
Eatherly, who had been at the courthouse earlier in the day for a scheduled hearing in a case filed by Midland Credit Management, was outside the complex when he approached the other man, police said.
Eatherly livestreamed the incident. In the video, Eatherly tells first responders a man was pointing and laughing at him. Eatherly told first responders he approached the man, who told him to back off and that if he used racially insensitive language he would punch Eatherly.
Eatherly charged with attempted murder
Eatherly was charged with attempted murder, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
He was booked into the Montgomery County Jail, where as of May 14, he remained held without bond pending arraignment.
It was not immediately known whether Eatherly had obtained an attorney to represent him in the case.
Locals upset 'Chud the Builder' was not stopped before shooting
Locals have long been raising the alarm about Eatherly and his content.
"Note to the sheriff's office: this wouldn't have happened if y'all had taken the public's concerns into account the first time, and done something about him sooner," a post on the agency's Facebook page announcing Eatherly's charges reads.
The Montgomery County Democratic Party said Eatherly "has long been attempting to gain local notoriety as a white supremacist."
"This afternoon, if preliminary reports are correct, he may have gotten his wish," the party said in a statement the day of the shooting. "The Montgomery County Democratic Party will follow developments closely and urges our community to stand together against racism and violence."
'Chud the Builder' arrested at Nashville steakhouse a week earlier
The incident marked Eatherly's second arrest in a week, following a May 9 altercation in Nashville involving a restaurant tab at a downtown steakhouse.
In an arrest affidavit, the Metro Nashville Police Department reported Eatherly ordered two entrees, cocktails and appetizers totaling $371.
"When the restaurant realized he had been live streaming they asked him to stop his actions," the affidavit said. "He became disruptive and started making racial statements, yelling, screaming and otherwise creating a scene."
"I'm not paying if you are kicking me out," Eatherly responded before leaving the restaurant, according to the affidavit.
Police found him walking nearby, court papers show, and when officers tried to take Eatherly into custody, he "pulled his arm away."
He was taken into custody and charged with theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Online court records show he is slated to appear in court on July 17 for a settlement hearing in that case.
Natalie Neysa Alund covers trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund.