Far‑right livestreamer “Chud the Builder” is in custody following a shooting outside a Tennessee courthouse that left two people, including himself, injured. Police have identified him as 28‑year‑old Dalton Eatherly, a Clarksville contractor who built an online presence by filming himself provoking strangers, using racial slurs and often flashing a gun on camera. The confrontation unfolded outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, where an argument between Eatherly and another man escalated into gunfire before deputies intervened.
According to court documents and local reports, investigators believe Eatherly actually shot himself in the leg during the altercation, while the other man was also wounded before both were taken to hospital. After receiving treatment, Eatherly was booked into the Montgomery County Jail on charges including attempted murder, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and is currently being held as the case moves through the courts. The Washington Times notes this comes just days after a separate arrest linked to an incident at a Nashville steakhouse, where he allegedly ordered nearly $400 worth of food, refused to pay and then resisted officers who were called to the scene. For a detailed breakdown of the charges and his recent cases, their report is worth a read here.
Eatherly’s content has been under scrutiny for some time. NBC News describes how he routinely livestreamed confrontations in public spaces, directing racist language at people, brandishing his firearm and, at one point, falsely suggesting he had ties to local law enforcement, which prompted Clarksville police to publicly clarify he had no connection to the department. Civil rights advocates and everyday viewers had been warning that the mix of harassment and guns would eventually spill over into real‑world violence, with some calling his arrest “inevitable” in light of how far the stunts had gone.
@cnn “Chud the Builder”, a livestreamer known for posting controversial videos using racial slurs, is in custody after getting into a confrontation with a man that “resulted in gunfire” in front of a Tennessee courthouse Wednesday, authorities said.
♬ original sound - CNN
Now, clips of the arrest and courthouse scene are circulating on Instagram and TikTok, alongside commentary about platforms rewarding “IRL” antagonism until someone gets hurt. In one widely shared reel, a CNN‑branded explainer labels him a “livestreamer known for posting controversial videos using racial slurs,” while users debate whether sites should have stepped in sooner or whether this is purely on Eatherly and his choices. For a broader look at his history, the shooting and how his online persona fed into this moment, NBC News’ write‑up offers a solid overview here.
