What was meant to be a carefree Saturday night under the Alabama stars turned into heartbreak — a tragedy that would unite a community through grief, love, and an act of pure compassion.
Eighteen-year-old Kimber Mills, a senior at Cleveland High School, joined friends for a bonfire at a local hangout called The Pit, just off Highway 75 North in Jefferson County. It was a familiar spot — laughter, music, and trucks parked under a blanket of autumn sky. A normal weekend before graduation season began.
But by dawn on October 19, 2025, that joy had turned to tragedy. Kimber was fighting for her life after being struck by gunfire.
Authorities say the violence began shortly after midnight when 27-year-old Steven Tyler Whitehead, an uninvited guest, arrived at the gathering and began causing trouble. Witnesses described him as agitated and intoxicated. Moments later, he allegedly pulled out a gun and opened fire into the crowd.
Four people were hit. Among them was Kimber, who suffered a gunshot wound to the head and another to her leg. Also injured was 21-year-old Silas McCay, who tried to shield Kimber and was struck multiple times.
As chaos erupted, friends called 911 and tried desperately to stop the bleeding. Paramedics airlifted Kimber to UAB Hospital in Birmingham, where doctors worked through the night to save her. Despite every effort, her brain injury proved irreversible.
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