Nashville Police Investigate Shooting Death Of Country Singer

Wayne Mills

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.

According to The Tennessean, Wayne Mills, 44, was shot by Pit and Barrel bar owner Chris Ferrell, police said. Ferrell, 44, 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. On Sunday, Shelton tweeted: “Extremely sad to hear about the death of my old friend Wayne Mills.”

Extremely sad to hear about the death of my old friend Wayne Mills @WayneMillsBand... Rest in peace brother. Love you Carol.
— Blake Shelton (@blakeshelton) November 24, 2013

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