*A Tennessee judge has ordered Dalton Eatherly, known online as “Chud the Builder,” held on a $1.25 million bond following a courthouse shooting in Clarksville that left an Army veteran injured and prompted an ongoing criminal investigation, according to ABC News.
The bond decision marks the latest development in a case that began with a confrontation outside the Montgomery County Courthouse and escalated into gunfire involving Eatherly and another man. A fundraising campaign launched for the injured man identifies him as Joshua Fox, a 31-year-old Army veteran who served six years. Fox’s family says he was shot during the incident and is now recovering while facing significant medical and financial challenges.
According to Clarksville Now and CNN, the clash allegedly began as a verbal dispute between Eatherly and Fox before escalating further. Investigators said surveillance footage shows Eatherly reaching toward a firearm in his jacket pocket before the encounter became physical. Authorities said he then fired multiple shots, striking Fox several times.
Fox was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Prosecutors said the shooting occurred Wednesday outside the courthouse where Eatherly had appeared for an unrelated civil matter. Authorities also said Eatherly sustained a graze wound to his own arm during the incident.
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According to CNN’s Isabel Rosales, Eatherly livestreamed the dispute. In audio obtained by the network, Eatherly claims he did not fire until Fox allegedly began physically attacking him. “Officers note that in the surveillance video that they witnessed, this never turned physical until [Eatherly] pulled out his gun,” Rosales said, per Mediaite.
Eatherly faces multiple felony charges, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon, and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony. During Friday’s hearing, Judge Reid Poland III cited the seriousness of the allegations and public safety concerns in setting the high bond amount. His next bond hearing is scheduled for May 21, with a preliminary hearing set for May 26.
Chud the Builder has built his online presence through livestreams featuring racist remarks directed at Black people, often intended to provoke reactions. Multiple videos circulating online show him referring to Black people as “chimps” and using the N-word during public encounters.
MORE NEWS ON EURWEB.COM: GoFundMe Created for Joshua Fox After Chud the Builder Shooting
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