Pit and Barrel Owner Charged With Second-Degree Murder

Chris Ferrell

Here is an update to previous stories about the Pit and Barrel bar owner that was involved in a shooting at his own bar a few weeks ago.  The show was pulled by Spike TV, but then mistakenly was aired.

Chris Michael Ferrell shot and killed country music artist Wayne Mills at the Pit and Barrel and had claimed self defense.  It has taken a few weeks to bring charges, but today, Chris Ferrell was indicted on second-degree murder charges.  He surrendered himself to the police, and his bond was set at $300,000. 

His lawyer David Raybin said they will fight the charge and that his client denies he is guilty of any degree of homicide.

The statement from the Nashville Police Department is below:

"Bar owner Christopher Michael Ferrell surrendered himself a short time ago on a Davidson County Grand Jury indictment charging him with second-degree murder for the November 23rd shooting death of musician Jerald Wayne Mills.
Ferrell, 44, was taken into custody at the downtown office of his attorney.
Mills, 44, suffered a gunshot wound to the head shortly before 5 a.m. November 23rd while at Ferrell’s Pit and Barrel bar at 515 2nd Avenue South. He died that evening at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
Ferrell and Mills had been involved in an argument inside the bar. After a thorough evaluation of the crime scene, evidence, statements from witnesses and autopsy findings, lead Detective Leonard Peck and his colleagues at the Central Precinct did not substantiate Ferrell’s claim of self-defense. Detective Peck met with the grand jury this morning to discuss his findings, resulting in the subsequent issuance of the indictment.
Criminal Court Judge Randall Wyatt has set Ferrell’s bond at $300,000."