Kimber Mills, an 18-year-old senior at Cleveland High School in Alabama, was among four people shot during a bonfire gathering in Pinson on October 18, 2025. The shooting followed what police say was a verbal and physical altercation: a 27-year-old, Steven Tyler Whitehead, allegedly arrived at the party, began harassing attendees, and opened fire, striking Kimber and three others.  Kimber, known for her cheerleading, school spirit, and aspirations of becoming a nurse, suffered critical injuries and was admitted to hospital in grave condition.

While Kimber fought for her life, her family and community gathered for what was called an “Honor Walk” at University of Alabama Hospital (UAB) in Birmingham. Friends, classmates, and hospital staff lined the hallways in tribute as Kimber was wheeled through—her condition deemed irrecoverable and brain trauma so severe that doctors prepared for organ donation. The family, honoring her wishes, opted to donate her organs rather than pursue further intervention: her heart went to a seven-year-old boy in Ohio and her lungs to a woman in New York.

Kimber’s death sent ripples through her school and community. Her cheerleading team and broader school community held a senior night tribute in her honor—students, families and faculty dressed in her favorite color and released balloons under the banner “LLK” (Love Like Kimber).Meanwhile, Whitehead has been arrested and charged in connection with the shooting—though Kimber and her family were still grappling with grief and loss. In the wake of her death, Kimber is being remembered not only for the bright life lost but also for the gift she left behind, providing hope to others through her self-less organ donation.