US teen, 18, fatally shot by man, 27, who was allegedly harassing her at party

Kimberly Mills, an 18-year-old cheerleader and track runner from Alabama, was shot in the head on Oct. 19, 2025, at an outdoor party.

Eyewitnesses said Steven Tyler Whitehead, 27, had been allegedly harassing Mills at the party.

One of the witnesses, Silas McCay, was quoted by local media WBRC News describing the incident that preceded the violence.

“My ex-girlfriend came up to me at the party and said he was trying to do stuff to this girl named Kimber.

My buddy and I found him, and we started fighting him. I grabbed him and put him over my shoulder and had him on the ground.

My buddy pulled me off him, and that’s when he pulled his gun out and started shooting.”

McCay himself was shot 10 times, but is expected to make a full recovery.

In total, four people were shot during the weekend mass shooting.

Organ donation

Mills' brain injuries were considered too severe for surgery.

Her sister, Ashley, told the media that Mills had "too much trauma to her brain" and that she required an assisted breathing machine.

"There is no surgery that would give her a life worth living," Ashley said.

She also paid tribute to her sister, who had wanted to be a nurse after graduation.

The doctors had given Mills only days to live.

Respecting Mills' wish to be an organ donor, her family conducted an honour walk after she was taken off life support.

An honour walk is when staff and family line the hospital halls before the patient is transported to the operating room, where her organs are harvested.

According to WBRC, her heart and lungs will go to someone in need.

Images from Kaitlyn Ross/FB and Jefferson County Sheriff's Office via WBRC