A man accused of fatally shooting an 18-year-old cheerleader at a 2025 bonfire party in Alabama is seeking to have the charges against him dismissed, asserting that his actions were justified as self-defense.
Steven Tyler Whitehead, 28, faces one count of murder and three counts of attempted murder in connection with the death of Kimber Mills. The incident occurred on October 19, 2025, outside of Birmingham at a location known as "The Pit."
Whitehead reportedly arrived at the party shortly after midnight and discharged his firearm into a crowd of 40 to 50 people following a verbal altercation, according to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office. Mills, a senior at Cleveland High School, was struck in the head and later died from her injuries. The other three individuals who were shot survived.
Silas McCay, who was present at the party, recounted that Whitehead was a stranger to the attendees. McCay stated that he and a friend became involved in a physical confrontation with Whitehead. After Whitehead was subdued on the ground, he allegedly produced a gun and began shooting.
Whitehead's defense hinges on a pre-trial immunity hearing, scheduled for December 7, where a judge will determine if his use of deadly force was legally justifiable under Alabama law. If the judge rules in Whitehead's favor, the charges will be dismissed, and he cannot be tried for the incident. Mills's family would also be barred from pursuing a civil lawsuit.
Kimber Mills was remembered by loved ones as a "bubbly" cheerleader who aspired to become a nurse. She was taken off life support days after the shooting, and her organs were donated. Her sister described her as someone who "loved everyone" and had a "spunk in her step."