A controversial livestreamer who built his fame on racial provocations now faces life in prison after prosecutors say he turned a courthouse taunt into a hail of bullets.[3][1]
Story Snapshot
- Dalton Eatherly, 28, aka “Chud the Builder,” charged with attempted murder after shooting outside Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee, on May 13, 2026.[3][1]
- Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office lists charges: criminal attempt murder, employing firearm during dangerous felony, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment with deadly weapon.[3][1]
- Eatherly livestreamed the clash, claiming self-defense after a punch; he suffered a graze wound to his arm.[3][1]
- Victim Joshua Love, disabled Army veteran with two kids, underwent emergency surgery; both men initially detained.[3]
- Eatherly’s pattern of racially charged public confrontations preceded the incident, including a recent Nashville arrest.[1]
Incident Unfolds at Millennium Plaza
Dalton Eatherly approached a group in Millennium Plaza near Montgomery County Courthouse around 1:15 p.m. on May 13, 2026. Witnesses reported people laughing and pointing at him, prompting his advance. A confrontation erupted; one account describes a man punching Eatherly. Three to four shots followed. District Attorney Robert Nash confirmed Eatherly fired first and accidentally shot his own arm.[3][1]
Deputies arrested both Eatherly and victim Joshua Love immediately. Eatherly, held without bond in Montgomery County Jail, awaits arraignment. His graze wound and abrasions align with a physical struggle, but video reportedly shows him assaulting Love post-shooting.[3]
Charges Carry Heavy Penalties
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office booked Eatherly on criminal attempt: murder, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. Tennessee law treats these as serious felonies; attempted murder alone risks 15-25 years, escalating with firearm enhancement.[3][1]
Prosecutors eye premeditation from Eatherly’s May 7 social media post predicting a “dead chimp on the pavement.” Post-shooting, he posted on Facebook calling Love “the chimp I shot in self-defense,” learning “actions have consequences,” and advising to “stay strapped.”
Self-Defense Claim Faces Scrutiny
Eatherly told first responders on livestream he acted after Love punched him despite pleas, claiming Love threatened violence due to post-traumatic stress disorder from military service. No independent witnesses confirm Love initiated contact or made threats.[3]
Common sense demands video timeline: Did Eatherly draw first while approaching, negating self-defense under Tennessee’s provocation doctrine? His history of targeting Black individuals with slurs in livestreams suggests he engineered the clash for content.[3]
Joshua Fox Clarksville TN Shooting-Livestreamer Dalton Eatherly aka ChudTheBuilder arrested for attempted murder at Montgomery County Courthouse https://t.co/6heIdESJK9
— Jude Kelly (@DeathNewsDaily) May 14, 2026
Conservatives value Second Amendment rights, but facts here undermine stand-your-ground. Eatherly provoked by advancing on a laughing group, continued assault after firing, and boasted online—hallmarks of aggression, not defense. Courts reject self-defense for those who instigate.[3]
Pattern of Provocative Livestreams
Chud the Builder gained notoriety livestreaming racial slurs at Black people in public, from Walmart kids to restaurant disruptions. A May 10 Nashville arrest for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and theft under $1,000 followed a similar incident.[2]
This fits a rise in “ragebait” streamers turning online antagonism into street violence. Network Contagion Research Institute notes 150+ far-right U.S. cases since 2018, 28% with firearms near public spaces. Eatherly’s antics mirror those leading to arrests.[3]
Legal and Cultural Ramifications
Victim Joshua Love’s status as disabled veteran with two kids fuels public outrage and GoFundMe support. Eatherly’s unrepentant posts amplify bias against him. Without ballistics rebutting intent or witnesses backing his story, conviction looms.
Tennessee courts prioritize evidence over persona. Eatherly’s clout-chasing ignores real-world fallout: families shattered, lives at stake. True self-defense demands de-escalation first; provocation voids it. This case tests free speech limits when words ignite gunfire.[3]
Sources:
[1] Web – Controversial live-streamer arrested after restaurant …
[2] Web – Petition update · ‼️ARREST‼️
[3] Web – UPDATE: Man who instigated racist disputes charged with attempted …
