Chris Ferrell Found Guilty of 2nd Degree Murder in Wayne Mills Case
UPDATE: Carol Mills Gives Statement, Defense Plans to Appeal Guilty Verdict
Christopher Michael Ferrell has been found guilty of 2nd Degree Murder in the shooting death of country music artist Wayne Mills. The verdict was read by the jury at 3:25 p.m. in the court of Judge Steve Dozier. It took the jury just over two hours of deliberations to come to the verdict. Chris Ferrell will be sentenced on April 10th. He faces 15 to 25 years of a mandatory sentence for the crime. Because of the ruling, Ferrell’s bail was immediately revoked, and he was taken into custody. Ferrell showed little emotion when the verdict was read. The family of Wayne Mills was quiet, but clearly relieved by the verdict.
Chris Ferrell shot country music artist Wayne Mills at the Pit and Barrel bar Ferrell owned in Nashville on November 23rd, 2013. Wayne Mills was attending an after hours party at the Pit and Barrel when a dispute about smoking inside caused the two friends to get into a verbal argument. The argument escalated until Wayne Mills verbally threatened Chris Ferrell, and out of fear, the bar owner pulled a .22 pistol and shot three times, striking Wayne Mills in the back of the head with the third shot. Wayne Mills later died from his injury at Vanderbilt Hospital in Nashville. The shooting happened on the same night of a George Jones tribute concert at the Bridgestone Arena.
From the beginning, Chris Ferrell claimed self-defense in the case, though he initially lied to investigators, saying that Wayne Mills pulled a gun on him. Then Ferrell took a .45 revolver and staged it at the crime scene to look like Wayne Mills had brandished the weapon. Ferrell later testified that it was actually Wayne’s cell phone he saw, and not a gun, and that Mills was unarmed. In fear, he lied to police. Wayne Mills had threatened to kill Ferrell right before the incident.
Chris Ferrell was later indicted by a Grand Jury on 2nd Degree Murder charges, but refused to plea down to a lesser offense, and instead decided to take the case to trial. Chris Ferrell hired noted Nashville defense lawyer David Raybin to defend him, and a private investigation firm led by former police detective Larry Flair to investigate the crime scene. Assistant District Attorneys Wesley King and Tammy Meade represented the prosecution in the case, and the lead detective was Leonard Peck.
“This whole thing was just tragic,” said Assistant District Attorney Wesley King as the prosecution exited the courtroom. “But at this point we’d like to go down and talk to the family and spend some time with them.”
The death of Wayne Mills became a matter of national attention because of the songwriter’s standing in the music community. Wayne Mills was a close friend of Jamey Johnson, was once a mentor to Blake Shelton, and to recent The Voice winner Craig Wayne Boyd. The NBC singing competition aired a tribute to Wayne during the last season of the show. Wayne Mills was survived by his wife Carol, and a young son.
Saving Country Music will have additional thoughts on the verdict upcoming.
READ: Carol Mills Gives Statement, Defense Plans to Appeal Guilty Verdict
March 6, 2015 @ 2:30 pm
Answered prayers!!!!
March 6, 2015 @ 2:40 pm
JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED! Chris deserves to live the rest of his life in PRISON!
March 6, 2015 @ 2:43 pm
GUILTY…
Justice was served.
Thank you GOD
March 6, 2015 @ 2:47 pm
Thank You ladies and gentlemen of the jury. I’ll drink a beer to that !
We loved Wayne Mills in Tuscaloosa and always will, cant wait to get off work and put in The Last Honkey Tonk CD !!
And thank you Saving Country Music for the coverage.
March 6, 2015 @ 2:48 pm
great coverage of this tragedy …
March 6, 2015 @ 2:51 pm
Nancy Grace ain’t got crap on you…..great coverage all the way.
March 6, 2015 @ 2:51 pm
Been getting statements from the prosecution, defense lawyers, and Carol Mills is about to make a statement. I will get this info out asap.
March 6, 2015 @ 2:55 pm
Thank you for keeping us updated.
March 6, 2015 @ 2:53 pm
Justice! Not everyone in Nashville is an idiot! Way to go Jury people!
March 6, 2015 @ 2:56 pm
Trigger, Thanks for the coverage and professional job that you have done! We will miss Wayne and will continue to pray for Carol and Jack and the extended family of Wayne! As far as Chris…….I hope the soap is slippery!!!!!!!
March 6, 2015 @ 3:05 pm
Great coverage Trigger. I can’t use the word “glad” to describe my emotions here, this whole thing is terrible all the way around, and it sucks to see so many lives, including the victim’s and the convicted’s, ruined as a result of a stupid fight between friends that got out of hand.
I was at the Jones tribute show that night, as were the parties involved from what I understand, and it’s awful to think a night spent celebrating a true country great ended with the loss of another.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:39 pm
I saw Wayne at the tribute show backstage just a few hours before he left to go down the street. He always sang the song Amanda every time my daughter would show up to where he was singing.R.I.P my friend.
March 6, 2015 @ 6:04 pm
Tubb, I absolutely agree with you that the entire situation is tragic. In essence, 2 men lost their lives that night. My heart breaks for the most innocent victim, Wayne’s young son Jack.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
Shot him THREE times? There was some personal anger going on there. So sorry about Wayne Mills.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:37 pm
Shot him once. Story says he fired three times total, but only the last one actually hit him.
March 6, 2015 @ 6:12 pm
Thanks for clarification..
March 6, 2015 @ 3:08 pm
So glad justice was served!Thoughts and prayers for the Mills Family who still dont have a Husband or father.Sad and senseless.RIP Wayne Mills.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:11 pm
Great job, Trigger.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:11 pm
Justice served. Not that it will change anything, at least carol and jack have some closure.. God Bless Them
March 6, 2015 @ 3:12 pm
I guess I need to read more about this. If some drunk threatens me…he better be willing to carry out his treat. Seems Ferrell’s downfall was lying to police about the gun in the first place.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:30 pm
They were friends, the fight started over a double standard that Chris had. Wayne was inebriated, and rightfully upset about the double standard. A threat made while intoxicated hardly warrants the loss of one’s life. Comin’ from a fellow Gun Totin’ Conservative, be smart about how you use your weapons.
People like Chris are the people liberals use an example to prove that gun control laws should more strict.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:46 pm
Ferrell is an idiot and a liar. Most people avoided him but Wayne was too nice, he gave people more chances than they deserved. I hope Ferrell will be the shower toy for the gorilla gangs. A few years earlier, he (Ferrell) told Wayne, , “I’m going to kill you one day”.
March 6, 2015 @ 4:18 pm
Just curious? How do you know that?
March 6, 2015 @ 4:29 pm
If being “threatened by drunks” is enough to make you pull out a gun and start shooting at people, bar owner is probably not the right profession for you. It seems that it was not the right profession for Chris Ferrell either.
March 6, 2015 @ 6:55 pm
That’s why I said I need to do more reading on it.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:28 pm
I know that my good friend Wayne was looking down upon this, giving us a fist bump! Glad Justice was served. Praying the family can find closure. From Tuscaloosa to Heaven…..Roll Tide my Brutha!
March 6, 2015 @ 3:46 pm
glad that Chris was found guilty, but did each development in this trial really deserve it’s own separate article? Our glorious Triggerman obviously feels very strongly about this matter.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:49 pm
Did you really need to put your 2 cents in??? I thought it was great for people not being able to attend to keep up with the trial. Go back to beatin off you fool.
March 7, 2015 @ 7:41 am
Yes, he has a right to express his opinion. Trigger’s reviews are awesome but the trial coverage was overkill for me too. And now we have to read about the phonies claiming to pray.
March 7, 2015 @ 8:27 am
You don’t have to read anything.
And, “phonies claiming to pray”, what does that even mean?
March 7, 2015 @ 8:27 am
This is one critcism that I’ve never understood, and is even harder to me to comply with. This whole “You’re talking about THIS too much.” It is my job to attempt to be relevant and topical, and sometimes one news story or artist just dominates a news cycle that I have no control over.
At the same time, I knew my coverage may not appeal to everyone, and that is why I did my best to offer alternatives. Yesterday I posted a story about Jason Isbell and Zac Brown. They day before I posted a feature on Ashley Campbell and a review of Kacey Musgraves. I am honored and flattered that some people want to read every story I post, but I rarely pick up a newspaper or magazine, or go to a website, and every single article appeals to me. I read the ones I want, and skip the others. I do my best to attempt to appeal to everyone, but ultimately I’m just one person doing the best job I can.
Also, this Wayne Mills story is far from over. So be prepared, though I doubt we’ll see this volume of coverage in the future.
March 7, 2015 @ 10:15 am
Sometimes you can’t win for losin’ with some people, those are ridiculous comments. You did a great job keeping it interesting while remaining, in my opinion. It was a big enough event that breaking it up was the best way to keep up with it.
March 7, 2015 @ 10:16 am
“remaining neutral”
March 9, 2015 @ 10:11 am
Well, I appreciatied the way you handled this, Trigger. Very much so. Thank you.
March 6, 2015 @ 3:55 pm
He was covering it as live event that spanned multiple days. It made sense to have a new article for each court day to keep everyone as up to date as possible, considering that an important independent Country music artist (which are covered at in depth on this site) lost his life. It’s a big deal. Not only that but it’s good deed done for the people who cared deeply for Wayne Mills, and the others involved in the case, who couldn’t attend.
Completely warranted to me.
March 6, 2015 @ 10:09 pm
Thank You Joshua R!!! Couldn’t have stated that better…. RIP Wayne…. prayers to the Family and sweet Carol and Jack.
March 6, 2015 @ 10:22 pm
You’re welcome.
March 6, 2015 @ 11:07 pm
I traveled to Nashville, TN to cover the trial, and really had no idea what shape my coverage would take. Maybe I’d post three articles the entire trial, or maybe I’d post three a day. All I know is that I promised myself that if I was going to cover it, I would cover it right, and I erred on the side of covering more than less because that is what people seemed to want. I also committed throughout my coverage to make sure to post non Wayne Mills articles for people who might not want to read about it. If working five consecutive 17 hour days isn’t enough for people, then I’m not sure what else I can do.
March 6, 2015 @ 11:33 pm
I preciate it Trigger.
March 7, 2015 @ 5:23 am
Thank you, Trigger. I checked daily to see what the latest updates were. While true justice would mean that Wayne was still alive, legal justice has been served in this case. I appreciate the coverage.
March 7, 2015 @ 5:37 am
I would like to say a big thank you Trigger. I read your updates daily. Sometimes, 3 or 4 times each. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you keeping us updated with all the details, since we couldn’t be there. Great job!
March 7, 2015 @ 10:02 pm
I read your updates as well Trigger and I appreciate it.
March 10, 2015 @ 8:19 am
I was extremely impressed with (and grateful for) the coverage you provided. In fact, I’m surprised anyone who has a genuine interest in the country music landscape would see it as anything other than essential.
March 6, 2015 @ 4:07 pm
So very sad. My deepest sympathies to the Mill’s family and all his friends.
March 6, 2015 @ 4:08 pm
Glad justice is finally being served. Thanks for all the coverage, it is very much appreciated.
March 6, 2015 @ 4:36 pm
Over smoking inside the bar…senseless. I hope he gets the max sentence.
March 6, 2015 @ 7:15 pm
Thank God! For those who knew Wayne as a friend and for his family..I hope this gives you some comfort. I only met him once but I was a fan before we met. I will always cherish the signed cd he gave me. For those who didn’t know him, nor knows nothing about what happened,,please don’t leave harsh comments.
March 6, 2015 @ 7:59 pm
Happy that justice has been served! Now may the sentencing be the max. Chris is a person that has an amped ego, outrageous temper…Mr Raybin says that from the evidence that it was unfair. What is unfair is a little boy no longer has his father, and a woman lost her husband. You do not fire 3 shots out of fear, if so it should have been in the air, you do not move a body, you do not stage a fictitious scene, you do not lie, you do not call a woman before 911. Wish they had done a toxicology on Mr Ferrell, that would have sealed it. Hope all appeals are denied! Think it is funny that Mr Ferrell claimed he was afraid for his life, yet he was on Match.com…
March 6, 2015 @ 8:31 pm
Trigger I too thank you for the excellent coverage of this trial . I met Wayne when I was a senior in college at UGA. I opened a gig for him and he immediately took me under his wing. He was so encouraging to a young beginner singer songwriter like myself praising my songs for being great whether he felt that way deep down or not! We kept in touch for years and the last time I saw him he was playing at Peachtree Tavern in Atlanta and I just happened to be visiting town. He invited me on stage to play “Dinosaur” (Bocephus) and let me “have the spotlight” while he stood back and chimed in here and there. That was a big deal for me being 26 or 27 at the time and he was so selfless and did not have to do that, but that’s the way he was. A big intimidating man in size and stature, but totally giving and not the least bit intimidating in character. Wish I would have known that would be our last song together! I still think of him every time a drunk in the crowd yells “Dinosaur” and, of course, I play oblige and play the song just as Wayne would have. Cheers to a kind soul.
Tim Miller
March 6, 2015 @ 9:43 pm
If Wayne’s Family has feels peace or something close to that from the verdict of this trial then justice has been served. But His wife and His young son Jack and the rest of The Family will always miss this Great Man !! I don’t think I ever heard Wayne say anything bad to anyone .. He was always friendly to me .. That Man loved what he did and enjoyed entertaining people and was greatful to His many fans !! We miss you Brother and You will always be in our Hearts !!
March 7, 2015 @ 2:04 pm
FANTASTIC NEWS! tHANKS!!!
March 8, 2015 @ 3:37 pm
How come you never wrote about Wayne or championed his music until after he died? Now you suddenly care so much. It’s all about traffic to your site. That’s all you care about. You are the scum of the earth. Wayne’s true friends hate your guts.
March 8, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
There’s other things he could write about that’d generate tons more traffic.
Go troll elsewhere.
March 8, 2015 @ 7:46 pm
“How come you never wrote about Wayne or championed his music until after he died?”
That’s a lie. I’d suggest you take the time to do a simple search of this site before making such a doltish, uninformed comment.
“It”™s all about traffic to your site. That”™s all you care about.”
You’re damn right. Because the more people reading this site, the more exposure for the artists and ideas I champion.
“Wayne”™s true friends hate your guts.”
I’ll explain to you what I have explained to many over the years:
I don’t give a shit what anybody thinks about me or what I do. It is my job to not care. It is my sworn oath and affirmation to the readers of this site to not care. I’m on record saying I hope all artists and their fans hate me equally, that way I can do my job unfettered by perceptions or friendships. I don’t run a popularity contest. If all of Wayne’s true friends “hate my guts,” that is completely inconsequential to anything. Making such a statement shows just how little you know about what I do. So take your scenester bullshit back to Facebook.
March 9, 2015 @ 6:11 am
Clearly Mr. Ferrell was not going to get away with stashing a gun on the victim. And a jury was never going to believe it was self defense because of that. His only chance was to plea bargain down to manslaughter. Which would have worked, because the ‘disregard for life’ requirement was really the only thing supporting a Murder 2 charge.
His defense let him down–big time.
At least that’s what I learned watching multiple Law & Order marathons.