A racist influencer known for directing racial slurs at black individuals and attempting to provoke reactions opened fire outside a courthouse on Wednesday, injuring one person and accidentally shooting himself.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, who operates online under the alias 'Chud the Builder,' was present at the Montgomery County Courts Center in Tennessee for a civil lawsuit filed against him by Midland Credit Management Inc. The incident occurred around 1:15 p.m., according to Clarksville Now.
Witnesses reported that a man punched Eatherly, while another stated that Eatherly fired three to four shots, allegedly striking both the victim and himself in the arm. The provocateur, who describes himself as a 'free speech patriot' and a 'comedian,' was livestreaming during the event and continued broadcasting as he interacted with emergency personnel afterward.
Eatherly claimed he was attacked outside the courthouse and fired in self-defense, as reported by TMZ. He stated he was walking past a man who, along with others, was 'laughing' and 'pointing at me.' When he approached them, Eatherly said the unidentified man told him to walk away but then turned back, saying, 'I have PTSD.'
'He said, "You start saying all that 'chimp out' s**t to me and I'mma hit you," and he hit me, he started whaling on me,' Eatherly recounted in the video. He has previously referred to black people as 'chimps' in his videos.
Eatherly is now in police custody and was transported by ambulance to Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital for treatment. The unnamed victim was airlifted by helicopter to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where he is listed in stable condition. The courthouse was placed on lockdown following the shooting.
'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. 'Their dedication to keeping the courthouse safe was clearly demonstrated today.'
The District Attorney's Office is reviewing the facts to determine formal charges. The shooting occurred less than a week after Eatherly made threatening posts on social media.
'I will defend my life with lethal force. Do not approach me with intent to threaten bodily harm,' he posted on his Chud The Builder X account on May 7. Another post read: 'Series finale is dead chimp on the pavement and you monkeys rioting when I walk free. Stay tuned.'
A video posted to X last week showed Eatherly spraying what appeared to be a chemical agent at a black man and repeatedly using the N-word after the man knocked his hat off.
Eatherly has a history of legal troubles, having made a name for himself by challenging black people to fights. In one November confrontation, he falsely claimed affiliation with the Clarksville Police Department, which the department later denied. He was arrested on November 18 on a harassment charge, which has since been sent to a grand jury.
He was also arrested on Saturday after allegedly refusing repeated requests to stop filming diners at Bob's Steak and Chop House in Nashville. According to an affidavit, when restaurant staff asked him to stop livestreaming, Eatherly became 'disruptive and started making racial statements, yelling and screaming,' causing a disturbance. He then refused to pay his $371.55 bill, stating, 'I'm not paying if you are kicking me out.' He was later found walking down a street and arrested for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and theft of $1,000 or less. He was released on a $5,000 bond and is due in court on July 17.
