Streamer Shoots Himself Outside Tennessee Courthouse Days After Arrest

Controversial internet personality Dalton Eatherly, known online as Chud the Builder, found himself at the center of another headline-making incident Wednesday when he was shot outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee. The twist: he claims he inflicted the wound himself during what he describes as a self-defense situation.

According to Eatherly’s account, he was jumped outside the courthouse and fired shots in self-defense during the altercation. In the chaos, he says he accidentally shot himself. The streamer remained live on camera throughout the aftermath, even continuing to broadcast as he spoke with emergency responders. When asked by first responders whether he’d grazed or fully penetrated the wound, he learned it had fully penetrated. Remarkably, he rated his discomfort level at a 6 out of 10.

The incident comes less than a week after Eatherly’s arrest in Nashville at Bob’s Steak&Chop House on May 11. Police say he refused repeated requests to stop filming other diners, caused a disturbance, and left without paying a $371.55 bill. He was booked for disorderly conduct and theft of services.

Eatherly’s online reputation is built on livestreamed confrontations with strangers, restaurant staff, and law enforcement. The pattern of escalation—from a steakhouse meltdown to a courthouse shooting in five days—suggests his pursuit of provocative content continues to blur the line between entertainment and genuine danger. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office confirmed deputies and Clarksville Police responded to the shots-fired incident and secured the scene, noting no danger to the public, though they haven’t released additional details about who else may have been involved or whether anyone else was injured.

It’s a stark reminder that the line between online performance and real-world consequences can dissolve faster than a livestream connection. The question isn’t whether Eatherly will stop seeking attention—it’s how much further the cycle will escalate before something changes.