PINSON, AL – An 18-year-old high school cheerleader was declared brain dead after being shot in the head during a violent altercation at a bonfire Sunday night, and a 27-year-old man now faces murder charges in connection with her shooting.
Kimber Mills was caught in crossfire when gunshots erupted at a remote bonfire location in Jefferson County. The shooting followed a physical fight that broke out after Steven Whitehead, 27, allegedly crashed the gathering uninvited.
According to witnesses, Whitehead approached one of Mills’ friends with a drink at the bonfire. When the friend alerted her boyfriend, a large fight erupted between multiple people, and shots were fired during the altercation.
Mills sustained gunshot wounds to her head and leg. Three other individuals suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the incident.
“There is no surgery that would give her a life worth living,” Mills’ sister said in a statement. Doctors believe Mills has days to live and she has a Do Not Resuscitate order in place.
Mills’ sister said the cheerleader was “caught in the crossfire” and was not directly involved in the confrontation that preceded the shooting. The teen had been attending the gathering with friends when the violence erupted.
Whitehead was arrested and charged with murder. He remains jailed in Jefferson County without bond. Additional charges are pending as investigators continue to interview witnesses and examine evidence from the scene.
Authorities have not disclosed what led to the physical altercation or whether anyone else will face charges in connection with the shooting. Investigators are working to determine who fired the shots that struck Mills and the other victims.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is continuing its investigation into the incident. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact local authorities.
