A Nashville bar owner was convicted of second-degree murder on Friday for the fatal shooting of a country singer-songwriter . Chris Ferrell , 46 , had told jurors that he shot Wayne Mills in November 2013 in self defense . But Nashville jurors sided with prosecutors who argued that Ferrell intended to kill Mills when he shot him after a heated argument at his now-defunct bar . Ferrell testified that the two got into an argument at his Pit and Barrel bar in the city 's downtown area and that Mills threatened to kill him . Scroll down for video . Nashville bar owner Chris Ferrell ( pictured on Thursday ) was found guilty of second-degree murder on Friday for shooting country singer Wayne Mills in the head during a heated argument at his now-defunct bar . Ferrell and singer Mills ( pictured ) were friends before the fatal shooting , according to family members in 2013 . ' I reached to the top of the cooler and retrieved my .22-caliber , ' Ferrell said , according to The Tennessean . 'And I fired it . I fired in fear . ' Ferrell said he grabbed bar towels to try and stop the bleeding , but then began to panic and put an unloaded gun next to Mills . 'Why would that cause you to panic ? ' David Raybin , Ferrell 's attorney , asked him . 'Because I thought I 'd , because I thought I 'd done something wrong at that point , ' Ferrell said about the shooting , which happened at about 5am . Ferrell ( left ) claimed he was only protecting himself when he shot Wayne Mills ( right ) in the head at his bar in November 2013 . Mills toured primarily college campuses for more than 15 years as the lead singer of the Wayne Mills Band . Country music singers Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton opened for the band before becoming stars . An autopsy found that Mills was shot in the back of the head . He also had two broken ribs , bruises and scrapes , according to WKRN . The jury reached their decision on the fifth day of trial that Ferrell was guilty . His attorneys said that they would appeal , according to The Tennessean . Mills toured for more than 15 years as the lead singer of the Wayne Mills Band . Country music stars Jamey Johnson and Blake Shelton , as well as American Idol winner Taylor Hicks , all opened for the band in their early careers . The Pit and Barrel bar , where Mills was killed , was supposed to be featured on an episode of the SPIKE TV reality show Bar Rescue the day after the shooting . Mills graduated from the University of Alabama with an education degree , and also played football for the school . He moved to Nashville in 2003 . The two men were previously friends , according to family members in 2013 . Following the night of the incident , SPIKE TV was set to feature the bar on its show Bar Rescue , which brings in a professional restaurant consultant to give struggling pubs a make-over . The network canceled the new episode and aired a re-run instead . Ferrell faces 15 to 25 years in prison and will be sentenced on April 10 . Ferrell testified in 2013 ( pictured above ) that he had received a dozen death threats since the killing - but insisted he acted in self defense .
Chris Ferrell , 46 , claimed country singer Wayne Mills threatened to kill him . Mills was shot in the head at Nashville 's Pit and Barrel bar in November 2013 . Mills , 44 , toured for more than 15 years as lead singer of Wayne Mills Band . He died on December 30 from complications related to pneumonia.