Alabama Man Seeks to Dismiss Murder Charges in Cheerleader Shooting Case

A man charged with the fatal shooting of an Alabama cheerleader at a bonfire party last year is trying to have his charges dismissed. He claims that his actions were justified as self-defense under state law.

Steven Tyler Whitehead, 28, is currently out on bond while facing murder and attempted murder charges related to the death of 18-year-old Kimber Mills. This incident took place in 2025, and Whitehead is waiting for a pre-trial immunity hearing that has now been rescheduled for December 7.

The shooting happened on October 19, near Birmingham, at a site known as “The Pit,” a popular gathering spot for local youth.

Reports state that Whitehead arrived at the party just after midnight and allegedly opened fire into a large crowd of 40 to 50 people after a verbal altercation ensued, as detailed by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office.

Mills, who was a senior at Cleveland High School and had plans to attend the University of Alabama, was among four people shot during the incident. While the others survived, she suffered a gunshot wound to the head and later succumbed to her injuries.

One of the other attendees, Silas McCay, who is now 21, recalled the events leading up to the shooting. He stated, “My ex-girlfriend came up to me at the party and said [Whitehead] was trying to do stuff to this girl named Kimber.” McCay emphasized that Whitehead was unfamiliar to them.

He continued, “My buddy and I found him and started fighting him. I had him on the ground, but when my friend pulled me off, that’s when he drew his gun and started shooting. I tried everything I could.”

Whitehead’s defense claims that he fired his weapon in self-defense. The outcome of his self-defense claim is dependent on the upcoming pre-trial hearing, where a judge will decide if his use of force was legally justified.

If the judge rules in favor of Whitehead, the charges against him could be dismissed, and he wouldn’t face trial. Additionally, Mills’s family would lose the opportunity to sue him, according to local reports.

Mills was remembered fondly by her family as a “bubbly” cheerleader who aspired to become a nurse. Tragically, her life was cut short by the violence at the party.

“She was just very bubbly,” her sister Ashley shared with WVTM13. “She loved everyone. She could make friends anywhere she went, but she also had that fiery side when she needed it. I guess I would say that she had a spunk in her step. She just loved everything. She was the sweetest.”

After being rushed to the hospital, Mills was taken off life support days later, with her organs donated.