Singer Wayne Mills was shot and killed in a Nashville bar on Saturday, Nov. 23. Chris Ferrell, owner of Nashville's Pit and Barrel bar, has come forward as the shooter claiming that it was self-defense, CNN reports.
According to reports, Mills and "a few friends and acquaintances" were at the closed bar with Ferrell when the two got into an argument. Reportedly the friends left and were standing outside the bar when they heard gunshots.
Police are investigating the shooting and Ferrell's claims that he shot the country singer in self-defense. Even though police have not released official details about what caused the argument it's being reported that Mills and the bar owner got into a fight over the singer smoking inside the bar, Fox reports.
"Very shocking," his manager J.R. Smith told Fox. "It's up to the police to decide in their investigation. Personally, honestly I don't see anybody ever having to take self-defense measures and shooting Wayne in the head."
The 44-year-old country star died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville hours after the shooting, his manger said. Immediately after the shooting there was some confusion about whether Mills had really been shot.
According to Fox, police mistakenly identified the victim as songwriter Clayton Mills. For 10 hours the singer was in hospital without his family or friends. Reportedly when they found out Mills was in the hospital he had already died.
"It was a terrible mistake... and there is no excuse," said Kristin Mumford with Metro Police.
The misidentified information was published online by local newspapers which caused Clayton Mills family and friends to panic. The songwriter took to his Facebook page on Saturday to clarify and offer his condolences to the family.
"After a morning of answering worried text from friends and family, I'd like to express my sorrow for the victim of this morning's shooting," he wrote. "Turns out his name is Jerald Wayne Mills and patrons of the bar told police he was songwriter Clayton Mills. My prayers are for Wayne's recovery."
The "outlaw country" singer had been working on his seventh album "Long Hard Road" and was touring small Southern venues at the time of his death. On Twitter Smith said the funeral would be after the Thanksgiving holiday and for fans to "pray for his family."
