Bar Owner Charged in Wayne Mills’ Shooting Released From Jail

wayne mills[Update]: Chris Ferrell, the Nashville bar owner charged in the fatal shooting of Country musician Wayne Mills, was given a lower bond and released from jail Monday (Dec. 16) to wait for his upcoming court date, according to The Tennessean. The 90-minute bond hearing on Monday provided new details in the early-morning incident. Ferrell also testified that he had received death threats after the altercation, and stated that he took to wearing a bulletproof vest for safety before being arrested.

Judge Steve Dozier reduced the bond, which was originally set at $300,000, to $150,000 and set rules for Ferrell, including where he will live and how regularly he must check in with a bail bondsman. Ferrell was ordered to give up his collection of more than a dozen guns, and was released at 6:54 p.m. on Monday.

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Pit and Barrel bar owner Chris Ferrell was arrested Friday (Dec. 6) on a second-degree murder charge in the death of musician Jerald “Wayne” Mills, 44, on Nov. 23, reports The Tennessean.

Ferrell told police that he shot Mills in self-defense after the two got into an argument regarding Mills smoking in the bar. Mills died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

After a police investigation, the grand jury indicted Ferrell on the murder charge.

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Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.

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