Country Music Singer Wayne Mills Shot & Killed by Pit & Barrel Bar Owner Chris Ferrellby in Nashville, TN … Supposedly Self Defense Over Argument Over Mills Smoking in the Bar

44 year old country singer Wayne Mills was shot by ‘Pit & Barrel’ bar owner Chris Ferrellby at the downtown Nashville, TN bar early Saturday morning. Mills, lead singer of the Wayne Mills Band, later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. According to Ferrellby, he shot Mills in self-defense after the two got into an altercation because Mills was smoking in a non-smoking area of the restaurant. Really, the use of deadly force for smoking in a non-smoking section? I guess smoking really does kill. One would suspect that there has to be more to this story. The Nashville metro police continue to instigate the shooting.

Pic: Wayne Mills – Wayne Mills Band.com

Nashville police on Sunday said they are still investigating a fatal shooting in the early hours of Saturday morning that left a country singer dead inside a downtown Nashville bar.

Wayne Mills, 44, was shot by Pit and Barrel bar owner Chris Ferrell, police said. Ferrell told police he shot Mills in self-defense following an argument over Mills smoking in the bar. Mills later died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

“We’re investigating Chris Ferrell’s claims of self-defense,” said Kris Mumford, a police spokeswoman. Ferrell is not in custody and there have been no arrests, she said.

Mills toured with the Wayne Mills Band, which often performed on the college circuit. The music was “outlaw/southern rock flavored,” according to the band’s website. Early in their careers, country music stars Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton and American Idol winner Taylor Hicks had all opened for the band.

Last Honky Tonk

On a personal note, I have actually seen Wayne Mills perform and in a day and age where Country music has become more main stream and one can’t tell the difference between pop and country, you certainly could with the Wayne Mills Band. Although I am not a huge country fan, it is refreshing when you are in a “Honky Tonk” to hear more traditional country music. How very sad. Our prayers go out to Wayne’s family, loved ones and friends.

Taylor Hicks posted on Facebook, “My good friend Wayne Mills passed away in Nashville. My thoughts and prayers are with his family. RIP Wayne he was my buddy. -Taylor”