‘Chud the Builder’ hit with $1.25M bond after courthouse shooting

Dalton Eatherly, the controversial internet figure better known online as “Chud the Builder,” appeared in court Friday after being charged in connection with a shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville.

A judge set Eatherly’s bond at $1.25 million following Wednesday’s incident, which left both Eatherly and another man hospitalized with gunshot wounds.

According to court records, the 28-year-old had been scheduled to appear for a civil debt hearing on the morning of the shooting. During a livestream recorded around the incident, Eatherly claimed another man mocked him outside the courthouse before allegedly following and assaulting him.

Eatherly said he attempted to walk away before drawing a firearm after the confrontation escalated physically.

Following the shooting, the livestream reportedly continued for several minutes. In the footage, Eatherly could be heard saying, “I just pray that dude is going to be alright. I tried to walk away from him.”

Authorities later charged him with attempted criminal homicide, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.

Prosecutors also revealed Eatherly currently has two pending criminal cases in separate Tennessee counties, which became a major factor during Friday’s hearing.

The judge cited the seriousness of the allegations, public safety concerns, the courthouse location of the shooting, and the fact Eatherly was already out on bond when the incident occurred as reasons for setting the unusually high bail amount.

The condition of the second man involved has not been publicly disclosed.

Eatherly has built a controversial online reputation through videos in which he allegedly targets strangers with racially offensive remarks in public while filming reactions for social media content.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for May 26.