The confrontation unfolded Wednesday afternoon outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, according to a statement from the district attorney general's office. Dalton Eatherly, 28, was involved in a dispute with another man that escalated to gunfire. Deputies responding to the scene found two adult men who had been in a physical altercation before shots were fired, the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said.
Both individuals sustained gunshot wounds. One man was taken to Vanderbilt Clarksville Hospital, while the other was airlifted by LifeFlight to Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. The sheriff's office added that both are in stable condition.
Eatherly allegedly opened fire and appeared to have shot himself in the arm, Robert Nash, the district attorney general, told Clarksville Now. The district attorney's office is reviewing the investigation for formal charges. Eatherly is known online as 'Chud the Builder,' a persona he uses to broadcast live streams in which he deliberately uses racial slurs to 'rage-bait' viewers.
Just days before the shooting, he was arrested after allegedly refusing to pay a nearly $400 bill at a Nashville steakhouse. According to affidavits reviewed by local media, he became disruptive and made racial remarks inside the restaurant. The motive for the courthouse confrontation remains unclear, and the other man's identity has not been released.
It is also unknown what charges Eatherly may face or whether his prior arrest is connected to the incident. The shooting has drawn attention to Eatherly's online activities, where he has built a following through provocative content. His live streams often feature confrontational behavior aimed at eliciting reactions from the public.
The incident outside the courthouse adds to a series of legal troubles for Eatherly, who has gained notoriety for his controversial tactics. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the dispute that led to the shooting. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected as the district attorney's review progresses.