By Patricia Jones Dalton Levi Eatherly, the Tennessee livestreamer known online as “Chud the Builder,” is still being held in custody according to the latest publicly available court and news reports. Eatherly was jailed after a May 13, 2026 shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville, Tennessee, and he faces several serious felony charges, including attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon and employing a firearm during a dangerous felony.
As of August 9, 2026, I found no credible report showing that Eatherly has been released. The most recent public updates say he remained in Montgomery County custody after judges declined to reduce or restore his bond. Because a live inmate-booking entry was not available through the sources I could access, his current status is best described as: latest public information indicates he remains jailed.
Why Is Chud the Builder in Jail?
Eatherly’s current detention stems mainly from the May 13 shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse. Authorities said Eatherly and another man, Joshua Fox, became involved in a confrontation that escalated into gunfire. Both men were injured.
Prosecutors later charged Eatherly with attempted criminal homicide, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment with a deadly weapon. These are allegations, and Eatherly has not been convicted of those charges. He has publicly claimed that he acted in self-defense.
What Happened to His Bond?
At an early court appearance, Eatherly’s bond was set at $1.25 million. A later Montgomery County hearing reset the bond at $1 million. His defense sought a lower amount and also argued that money raised online should be allowed to help post bond.
On June 3, a Tennessee judge declined to reduce the $1 million bond. Reporting on the hearing said the court also considered concerns about the source of crowdfunding money and the seriousness of the pending charges. That decision kept Eatherly in custody unless the bond could be posted under the court’s conditions.
Why Was His Nashville Bond Revoked?
Eatherly was also facing a separate Nashville case from a May restaurant incident. He had been accused of theft of services, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after an incident involving a bill of nearly $400 at Bob’s Steak & Chop House. He had initially been released on bond in that case.
After the Clarksville shooting, prosecutors argued that the new felony allegations showed he had violated the conditions of his earlier release. On June 17, Davidson County Judge Melissa Blackburn revoked his bond in the Nashville matter. Later reporting said the judge again declined to change that decision and sent the Nashville charges to a grand jury.
Is Chud the Builder Still in Jail Now?
Based on the latest reliable public information I could locate, yes. Eatherly remained in Montgomery County custody after the bond rulings in June, and I found no later credible report announcing his release.
This answer comes with an important qualification: jail status can change quickly after a bond payment, new court order, transfer or other custody decision. The most recent published court reporting I found continues to describe him as incarcerated, but I could not verify a live August 9 booking record directly from the Montgomery County jail system.
What Is the Status of the Courthouse Shooting Case?
The courthouse shooting case has moved beyond the earliest bond hearings and remains part of the Tennessee criminal court process. Prosecutors have relied on surveillance footage and other evidence when arguing against release, while Eatherly’s defense has challenged the state’s position and maintained that the confrontation involved self-defense issues.
No trial verdict has been entered. Until the case is resolved by dismissal, plea agreement or trial, the criminal allegations remain unproven in court.
Could Chud the Builder Be Released Before Trial?
Potentially, but release would depend on the applicable bond orders and whether all legal conditions are satisfied. In the Montgomery County shooting case, the reported bond remained extremely high. In the separate Nashville case, his earlier bond was revoked.
That combination makes pretrial release more difficult than simply paying one ordinary bond amount. Any future motion to reduce bond, restore release conditions or otherwise change his custody status would require additional court action.
What Happens Next?
The next major developments will come from the Tennessee courts handling the separate Montgomery County and Davidson County matters. Future hearings could address grand-jury action, motions, evidence, bond conditions or trial scheduling.
For readers asking only whether “Chud the Builder is still in jail,” the clearest current answer is that the latest public reporting indicates he remains behind bars. There is no verified public report of a release as of August 9, 2026.
Because the case is ongoing, any description of the shooting or other alleged conduct should be understood as an allegation unless and until it is proven in court.