NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Dalton Eatherly, a 28-year-old man colloquially known as "Chud the Builder," has been granted a preliminary bond of $1.25 million following charges of attempted murder and several other offenses. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee.
According to the affidavit associated with his arrest warrant, Eatherly engaged in a verbal altercation with another individual at approximately 1:19 p.m. during which he allegedly adopted a "bladed stance" and reached for a firearm from his right jacket pocket. This led to a physical confrontation between the two men, during which Eatherly reportedly discharged his firearm, striking the other man multiple times. The victim was subsequently airlifted to a Nashville hospital where he underwent emergency surgery but is now reported to be in stable condition.
The affidavit further indicated that there were "several innocent bystanders" present during the shooting. Surveillance footage documented a ricochet that impacted nearby walls, and audio recordings along with witnesses suggested that Eatherly accidentally shot himself in the arm during the incident.
During Eatherly’s arraignment on Friday, May 15, prosecutors sought to hold him without bond in light of the incident's severity and the number of people present at the courthouse. However, Judge H. Reid Poland III opted to set a high bond instead, citing both the seriousness of the felonies and the potential danger posed to bystanders.
In addition to the attempted murder charge, Eatherly faces several other serious allegations, including employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. It was noted by Judge Poland that Eatherly had previously been released on bond for two other separate cases, including a harassment charge from November in Montgomery County and recent charges in Davidson County related to theft of services, disorderly conduct, and resisting arrest.
Jacob Fendley, the attorney appointed to represent Eatherly in these felony charges, responded to queries about the case by addressing the "hateful phone calls and emails" his office has received. He emphasized that he has a history of serving clients of various backgrounds and vehemently denied any allegations of racism associated with him or his staff, describing such claims as "simply ridiculous." He asserted that the role of a criminal defense attorney is to advocate for individuals regardless of their race, religion, ideology, or the nature of allegations against them.
Eatherly, who is identified as white and has gained notoriety for posting provocative and racist videos online, reportedly instigates confrontations with Black passersby using racial slurs. While police have not confirmed the race of the man who was shot, a witness has described him as Black.
As of Friday, Eatherly remained incarcerated at the Montgomery County jail. A comprehensive bond hearing is set to take place on May 21, while a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26.
