A controversial streamer faces decades in prison after a courthouse shooting.
Dalton Eatherly, known online as ChudTheBuilder, faces a $1.25 million bond and potential prison time after a violent confrontation outside a Tennessee courthouse.
Public spaces are meant to be safe, but a heated argument outside a courthouse turned into a scene of gunfire. It leaves us wondering how online behavior can spill over into real-world violence.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, was arrested on May 13 after a shooting at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee. Eatherly, who streams under the name ChudTheBuilder, was involved in a fight with another man, Joshua Fox.
Both men were hurt in the shooting and taken to local hospitals. They were reported to be in stable condition after the incident.
What the money/evidence shows
- Bond set at $1.25 million.
- Fundraiser has collected over $200,000.
- Potential maximum prison sentence of 56 years.
- Minimum exposure of 21 years if convicted on top counts.
- Surveillance footage shows a ricocheting bullet hitting nearby walls.
The bigger question
We have to ask why a person who makes a living by provoking others in public feels the need to carry a gun to a courthouse. Is this just about one man, or does it show a trend of online personalities seeking clout through real-world conflict?
When the line between a "content creator" and a public nuisance blurs, the community is the one that pays the price. We should be asking if our legal system is equipped to handle people who use their platforms to incite these kinds of dangerous situations.
The other side
Eatherly’s defense has not yet provided a detailed public statement regarding the shooting, though his supporters have raised significant funds to help cover his legal costs and bond. The strength of his defense will likely hinge on whether he can prove he acted in self-defense during the altercation.
What happens now
Eatherly remains in jail while prosecutors look into whether he can use the money raised online to pay his bond. If he is convicted, he faces mandatory prison time that must be served without the chance for early parole.
What we still don't know
- Will the court block the use of the $200,000 fundraiser for his bond?
- What exactly triggered the initial confrontation between the two men?
- How will the ongoing investigation into his past behavior affect the final sentencing?
Source Note: All charges are allegations - Dalton Eatherly is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Transparency notes
Published: May 16, 2026. No major post-publication update has been logged.
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