“ChudTheBuilder” Dalton Eatherly says he shot man in self-defense after being attacked outside courthouse [AUDIO]

The content creator tells police the other party hit him repeatedly and kept wailing even after the gun went off

Dalton Eatherly, the content creator known as “ChudTheBuilder,” told police he shot a man in self-defense after being repeatedly struck during an altercation outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee, on May 13. A split-screen video posted to X by user @voiddmp4 captures Eatherly giving his statement to law enforcement alongside footage of the other individual receiving medical attention.

The 56-second recording shows Eatherly, wearing a white cowboy hat and white button-up shirt, describing the sequence of events that led to the shooting. He claims he walked away from the man, was followed, was told the man had PTSD, was then hit, and “started wailing on me.” Eatherly says the man continued attacking him even after the gun went off.

Both individuals were transported from the scene in stable condition, according to local reporting.

Eatherly Claims He Was Pointed At and Laughed At Before Confrontation

In the audio, Eatherly tells a bald officer in a blue shirt and black tactical vest that the incident began when he noticed the other individual and his associates pointing at him and laughing. “I walked past him, he was sitting on the corner,” Eatherly says. “I walked up to them because they were pointing at me. They were laughing and pointing at me.”

Eatherly says he approached the group and asked, “What’s up guys, how are y’all doing?” According to his account, the other individual responded by asking if Eatherly liked his “new suit” and then told him to walk away. Eatherly says he complied with that instruction. “I walked away from him,” he states in the recording.

The content creator then claims the man followed him. “He came back up to me,” Eatherly says. He quotes the other individual as saying, “I have PTSD, I feel like I’m in” before making a reference Eatherly characterizes as “all that chimp out shit.” The exchange set the stage for the physical confrontation that followed.

Eatherly Says He Was Hit Repeatedly Before Firing His Weapon

The physical altercation began when the other individual announced his intention to strike Eatherly. “Imma hit ya,” Eatherly quotes the man as saying. Then, according to Eatherly, the man followed through. “He hit me. Started wailing on me,” Eatherly tells the officer, his tone steady throughout the recording.

Eatherly states that he discharged his firearm in self-defense while being attacked. “Even after I had to defend myself by shooting,” he says, “he was still wailing on me.” This claim — that the other individual continued the assault after the gun went off — is central to Eatherly’s self-defense argument. The video does not show the altercation itself, only Eatherly’s account of it.

The left panel of the split-screen shows the other individual seated upright on a yellow-and-black medical gurney outdoors on red brick pavers. Uniformed personnel in tactical vests attend to him. The visual contrast between Eatherly giving his statement indoors and the other man receiving medical treatment outdoors underscores the severity of the incident.

Officer Asks About Weapon as Eatherly Describes His Injuries

After Eatherly finishes describing the altercation, the officer shifts to questions about the firearm. “Where’s your weapon at?” the officer asks. Eatherly responds that law enforcement has already secured it. “They have everything,” he says, adding a clarifying question about a specific item: “What is that right there?”

The officer then asks if the weapon belongs to Eatherly. “Is it yours?” the officer says. “Yeah,” Eatherly replies. He then acknowledges that the investigation will proceed, stating, “Oh no you guys are gonna do your thing.” His tone remains calm and cooperative throughout the exchange.

The officer then conducts an on-scene assessment of Eatherly’s injuries. “Okay he has a graze. I call the left arm,” the officer says. Eatherly adds details about other wounds: “He had slight abrasion right here in his head. Maybe some scrapes. Light, lightheadedness.” The graze wound to his left arm was self-inflicted during the altercation, according to subsequent reporting.

Altercation Occurred Outside Montgomery County Courthouse

The incident took place around 1:15 p.m. local time on May 13 outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Clarksville Police Department responded to the scene and secured the area. Eatherly was taken into custody pending investigation by the Tennessee District Attorney General’s Office.

The other individual sustained a gunshot wound and was airlifted for medical treatment. Both parties were transported from the scene in stable condition. No further details about the other individual’s identity or current condition have been released by authorities as of press time. The investigation remains ongoing.

The video posted to X by @voiddmp4 has circulated widely, with users dissecting Eatherly’s account and the split-screen presentation of the aftermath. The recording does not show the altercation itself, only Eatherly’s statement to law enforcement and the medical response to the other individual. No charges have been announced as of the latest available information.

Social Media Reacts to of Eatherly’s Statement

The X post featuring the split-screen screenshot has received significant engagement, with users reacting to Dalton Eatherly’s account of the shooting. Many comments focused on his calm demeanor while describing the violent encounter. One user wrote: “Dude is explaining how he shot someone and he sounds like he’s ordering coffee.”

Others questioned the self-defense claim given that Eatherly approached the group initially. “He walked up to them because they were pointing and laughing,” one user noted. “That’s not de-escalation. That’s confrontation.” Another user countered: “He walked away when told to. The other guy followed him and hit him first. That’s self-defense.”

Some comments focused on the split-screen format itself. “They really put him giving his statement next to the other guy bleeding on a stretcher,” one user wrote. Others expressed skepticism about the “PTSD” and “chimp out” references in Eatherly’s account, with one user calling the framing “suspicious.” The post continues to circulate as the investigation unfolds.

“ChudTheBuilder,” the Content Creator

Dalton Eatherly has built an online following under the name “ChudTheBuilder,” creating content that spans commentary, comedy, and cultural criticism. His presence on platforms including YouTube and X has made him a recognizable figure in certain online communities. The shooting incident has brought him renewed attention, though not for his content.

Prior to May 13, Eatherly had not been publicly associated with any violent incidents. His social media accounts feature a mix of political commentary, pop culture analysis, and personal updates. As of May 13, his accounts remained active, though he had not posted about the shooting directly.

The investigation into the shooting is being handled by the Tennessee District Attorney General’s Office. No charges have been filed against Eatherly or the other individual as of the latest available information. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has not released the name of the other individual involved in the altercation.

Conclusion

Dalton Eatherly told police he shot a man in self-defense after being followed, hit, and repeatedly struck outside a Tennessee courthouse. His statement has drawn millions of views as viewers parse his account against the image of the other man on a medical gurney.

The investigation remains open. No charges have been filed. Eatherly’s self-defense claim is now in the hands of the Tennessee District Attorney General’s Office. The video will likely play a central role in whatever comes next.