NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RTW News) — A Tennessee man known as 'Chud the Builder' has been charged with attempted murder and other offenses after a shooting incident outside the Montgomery County Courthouse. Dalton Eatherly, 28, was given a preliminary bond set at $1.25 million.
The shooting occurred on Wednesday, where Eatherly allegedly shot a man after a verbal altercation. An affidavit states that during the confrontation, Eatherly reached for his firearm from his right jacket pocket, leading to a physical fight that culminated in multiple gunshots being fired.
The victim was airlifted to a Nashville hospital and has since undergone surgery, with his condition reported as stable. Several innocent bystanders were present during the shooting, raising concerns about public safety due to the ricocheted projectiles captured in surveillance footage.
At the arraignment, Judge H. Reid Poland III set the bond high due to the serious nature of the charges and the potential threat to public safety, despite the prosecution's request for Eatherly to be held without bond. Alongside attempted murder, Eatherly also faces charges related to the reckless use of a firearm and aggravated assault.
Prior to this incident, Eatherly had faced other charges, including harassment and theft. His attorney, Jacob Fendley, has pushed back against accusations of racism linked to Eatherly's social media activities, emphasizing the role of a defense attorney to represent clients regardless of their racial background or the severity of their charges.
The case has sparked significant attention, especially given Eatherly’s history of posting provocative racist content online, which has drawn outrage and raised questions about his motivations during the incident. Furthermore, a witness described the shooting victim as Black, although official records about the race of the individuals involved have not been confirmed.
Eatherly remains in the Montgomery County jail, with a full bond hearing scheduled for next week.
