A man has been released on bond following charges related to the shooting of an Alabama high school cheerleader at a bonfire party, during which he also fatally shot three other individuals. Steven Tyler Whitehead was charged with murder and attempted murder in the incident that resulted in the death of 18-year-old Kimber Mills.
Whitehead secured his release from the Jefferson County Jail on Thursday, after a judge set his bail at $330,000. An electronic monitoring device is required as part of his release conditions. Mills, who was a senior at Cleveland High School, was shot during an event in October 2025 near a location referred to as “The Pit” in Pinson, Alabama.
Authorities reported that the situation escalated violently when Whitehead arrived shortly after midnight and engaged in confrontations before opening fire. Mills was struck by gunfire along with three others.
One of the victims, Cyrus McKay, who is 21, has shared that he was shot ten times in various parts of his body while trying to shield his friends, including Mills. From his hospital bed, he expressed deep regret, saying, “I wish I could have done more.”
McKay recounted how the violence began after he confronted Whitehead, noting that Whitehead had attempted to speak with Mills prior to the altercation. Describing the moments leading up to the shooting, McKay said, “My ex-girlfriend had mentioned something about a girl named Kimber, and then I found him… we started fighting, and that’s when he pulled out the gun.”
McKay, along with another individual, Hunter McCullouch, has been charged with third-degree assault connected to the earlier argument. However, authorities have not suggested that either man fired the weapon responsible for the shooting. Sadly, McKay was among those killed.
Trussville Police Chief Eric Rush indicated that Mills sustained injuries to her head and leg, leading to her rapid transport to a Birmingham hospital, but despite medical efforts, she did not survive. Her sister, Ashley Mills, announced Kimber’s passing on Facebook after a moving tribute at the hospital, stating, “She was and is loved by many. We will miss you, Kimber.”
Ashley confirmed their family’s difficult choice to issue a do-not-resuscitate order due to the severity of Kimber’s brain injuries, wishing to honor her desire to be an organ donor.
Friends and family remember Kimber Mills as a vibrant, joyful person. As a dedicated cheerleader and track athlete, she had plans to study nursing at the University of Alabama in 2026. Reflecting on her caring nature, her sister mentioned, “She took a little courage and stepped out.”
In the wake of Whitehead’s release on bail, Ashley expressed her anxiety and frustration on social media, emphasizing their desire for justice for Kimber. “It made it even more disturbing for me to know he was out. I’m at home,” she wrote.
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office did not comment on the bond decision, stating they had no further information available.
