An Alabama man who is facing a murder charge in the death of a high school cheerleader he allegedly fatally shot during a bonfire party has recently bonded out of a jail, according to news reports
In addition to the killing of Kimber Mills, who was a cheerleader at Cleveland High School in Alabama, Steven Tyler Whitehead, 28, is also charged in connection with the shootings of three other people he is accused of shooting, WVTM reported.
The morning of Thursday, January 29, Whitehead was released from the Jefferson County Jail, according to records viewed by WVTM. There, he was being held on a $330,000 bond, according to WBRC.
Us Weekly reached out to Whitehead’s legal representation for comment on Wednesday, February 4, but did not receive an immediate response.
The case against Whitehead stems from October 19, 2025, when Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies received a call about several people shot in Pinson, the sheriff’s office said in a previous news release.
Authorities initially said that “a verbal and physical altercation escalated, resulting in gunfire.”
The shooting unfolded in an area locally known as “The Pit” during a bonfire gathering, WVTM reported.
When deputies arrived, they found a 21-year-old man, an 18-year-old man, and an 18-year-old female had been shot, according to the sheriff’s office. All three of them were taken to a hospital.
Then, deputies learned that an additional person, a 20-year-old woman, was also shot and had already been taken to a hospital “by a personal vehicle.”
The 18-year-old, identified as Mills, was ultimately put on life support and later died, WVTM reported.
Mills was taken off life support on October 21, a few days after the shooting, WBRC reported.
Her sister, Ashley Mills, shared the news of her death in a Facebook post, according to Fox News. In the post, she wrote: “Our sweet baby sister went to be with the Lord at 7:08 p.m. last night. She had the biggest gathering for an honor walk the doctor had ever seen. She was and is so loved by so many. We will miss you, Kimber.”
Kimber also ran for Cleveland High School’s track team and had plans of attending the University of Alabama in 2026, Fox News reported. She had dreams of pursuing a nursing career.
After Whitehead was released on bond, Ashley wrote on Facebook: “Justice for Kimber! That’s all we want. That’s just more anxiety for me knowing he’s out. I’ll stay home.”
