Bond for internet personality “Chud the Builder” was set at $1.25 million Friday following a shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, appeared in court days after investigators said he was involved in a shooting along Millennium Plaza on May 13 around 1:20 p.m. Court records show Eatherly had been scheduled to appear in Montgomery County civil court earlier that morning over a debt-related case.
During a livestream following the incident, Eatherly claimed the confrontation started after a man pointed and laughed at him outside the courthouse. According to Eatherly, he initially walked away before the man allegedly followed and punched him, leading him to pull out a firearm.
Both Eatherly and the other man suffered gunshot wounds and were taken for treatment. The condition of the second man has not been released.
After the shooting, Eatherly continued livestreaming for several minutes. In the video, he can be heard saying, “Man, I just pray that dude is going to be alright. I tried to walk away from him.”
Authorities charged Eatherly with attempted criminal homicide, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon.
The judge said the attempted homicide charge alone carries a possible sentence ranging from 15 to 60 years in prison. The firearm charge could bring a mandatory six-year sentence if convicted, while the aggravated assault and reckless endangerment charges also carry additional prison time.
Prosecutors noted Eatherly already has pending cases in both Montgomery and Davidson counties and requested additional review before bond was considered.
The judge cited the seriousness of the charges, concerns for public safety, the fact the shooting happened outside a courthouse and that Eatherly was already out on bond as reasons for setting bond at $1.25 million.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26 at 9 a.m.