A Tennessee judge set a $1 million bond on Thursday, May 21, 2026, for a livestreamer charged with attempted murder in a courthouse shooting.
Dalton Levi Eatherly, 28, known online as "Chud the Builder," faces charges including attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, and reckless endangerment.
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The charges stem from a May 13 altercation outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville.
Both Eatherly and Joshua Fox, a disabled military veteran, suffered gunshot wounds.
Surveillance footage showed Eatherly approaching Fox, who was attending a child support hearing, leading to a verbal dispute and physical struggle.
Fox took Eatherly to the ground, and seven shell casings were recovered from a single weapon.
Search warrants at Eatherly's home and truck uncovered a bulletproof vest, a rifle, a shotgun, ammunition, and an airline ticket to Istanbul, Turkey, scheduled for May 22.
Investigators also presented social media posts and videos detailing Eatherly's intent to use lethal force in self-defense.
Judge H. Reid Poland III lowered the initial $1.25 million bond to $1 million to comply with state requirements for defendants already out on bond for separate offenses.
If Eatherly posts bond, he must wear a GPS monitor, surrender all weapons, submit to a gag order, and halt his passport application.
Court Testimony and Arguments
Lead investigator Michael Webber testified about the visual evidence, stating that Eatherly attempted to pull his gun from his jacket pocket during the struggle.
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The defense suggested a different physical dynamic, but Webber could not verify it from the silent video.
Body camera footage captured Eatherly telling an officer, "He hit me, started wailing on me and I had to defend myself."
District Attorney General Robert Nash argued that Eatherly's online provocations and weapons possession posed a danger to the community, noting an unarmed man was shot.
Defense attorney Jacob Fendley countered that Eatherly was a public target needing protection, already tried in the court of public opinion.
The case has intensified national discussions on online speech limits and monetization of confrontational content.
Eatherly maintained his actions were within his constitutional rights, calling them "mild jokes, unfiltered thoughts."
Legal professionals noted that open carry combined with verbal harassment can meet the definition of criminal assault.
Civil rights advocates emphasized the real-world safety implications for Black citizens when confrontational recordings are broadcast.
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The Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk confirmed the case has been bound over to a grand jury for indictment review.
