Fact check: Did Chud The Builder post racist Facebook updates after courthouse shooting? Viral screenshot debunked (Image via Getty)
Dalton “ChudTheBuilder” Eatherly is facing attempted murder charges after a shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee. Soon after his arrest, a screenshot claiming to show a Facebook post from the streamer started spreading online. The viral image included racist language and claimed Eatherly acted in self-defense. But there is no proof the Facebook post was real. Authorities confirmed that the 28-year-old streamer was taken into custody on Wednesday after a fight turned into gunfire outside the courthouse. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said both men involved suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to hospitals in Clarksville and Nashville.At the same time, social media users began sharing a screenshot posted by X user @QuickGetTheSig. The image claimed Eatherly wrote on Facebook that the man he shot had “chimped around and found out.” However, there is no public Facebook account linked to ChudTheBuilder, and no verified evidence shows he made that post after his arrest.
Dalton “ChudTheBuilder” Eatherly’s viral Facebook post appears fake after Montgomery County Courthouse shooting
The alleged Facebook message quickly spread across X and other platforms because of its shocking language. In the screenshot, the writer claimed the shooting was self-defense and mocked the injured man. The post also included racial remarks. But there is no confirmed source for the statement. ChudTheBuilder has been banned from several platforms in the past over racist comments and controversial livestreams. He mainly uses X and streams on Pump.fun.Hours before the shooting, Eatherly posted on X about free speech. Replying to X Head of Product Nikita Bier, he wrote: “This app gave me a voice when no one else would. I thank everyone at X for this. I pray you continue to stand on objective freedom no matter the race.”In another recent post, Eatherly talked about an earlier arrest connected to an incident at Bob’s Steak & Chop House in Nashville. Police said he left without paying a $371 bill after restaurant staff asked him to stop livestreaming inside. He also shared a now-deleted warning on May 7 that read: “Series finale is dead chimp on the pavement and you monkeys rioting when I walk free. Stay tuned.”Later, he added that he would defend himself “with lethal force” if threatened. According to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to reports of shots fired outside the courthouse around 1:20 p.m. Officials said a physical fight between two men became violent and ended in gunfire. During a livestream after the shooting, Eatherly claimed he acted in self-defense. He said the other man punched him before the shooting happened.After the investigation, authorities charged Eatherly with Criminal Attempt: Murder, Employing a Firearm During a Dangerous Felony, Aggravated Assault, and Reckless Endangerment with a Deadly Weapon. Sheriff John Fuson said in a statement: “This kind of violence will not be tolerated, and our office will work to make sure those responsible are held accountable.” Eatherly is currently being held at the Montgomery County Jail pending arraignment.