Kimber Mills, 18, had big dreams of attending the University of Alabama to pursue a career in nursing.
But sadly, she was shot in a wooded area during a high school bonfire.
Police have now arrested a 27-year-old man, who faces three counts of attempted murder.
A sweetness that drew people in
Eighteen-year-old Kimber Mills was the kind of person whose heart seemed to have no limits — always ready to lend a hand, always thinking of others first. A senior at Cleveland High School in Blount County, Alabama, she balanced her life as a cheerleader with running track, radiating energy and school spirit.
Kimber had big dreams, planning to attend the University of Alabama next year to pursue her goal of becoming a nurse, a path that reflected her caring nature.
Kimber’s sister, Ashley describes her sister as warm and friendly, with a sweetness that drew people in, yet Kimber had a spark, a fiery determination that made her uniquely herself.
“She had a little spunk to her step,” Ashley told AL.com.
But tragically, Kimber’s bright future was cut short. On October 18, Kimber was shot and killed in a heavily wooded area in Pinson, Alabama, known as The Pit, during a high school bonfire.
Caught in the crossfire
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported that 27-year-old Steven Tyler Whitehead arrived around 12:24 a.m., and after a verbal and physical altercation, fired multiple shots. In addition to Mills, a 18-year-old man, a 21-year-old man, and a 20-year-old woman were also struck bygunfire.
Whitehead has been charged with three counts of attempted murder and is being held on a $180,000 bond.
“Kimber was caught in the crossfire,” her sister Ashley Mills told AL.com, adding that the shooter was unknown to the group and had reportedly approached one of Kimber’s friends, sparking the fight that ended in tragedy.
Kimber was taken off life support on Oct. 21. Kimber’s family shared that more than 100 people came to see her while she was at the hospital.
Ashley shared on Facebook, “Our sweet baby sister went to be with the Lord at 7:08 p.m. last night! She has had the biggest gathering for honor walk the doc has ever seen! She was and is so loved by so many. We will miss you Kimber! Everyone is free to share this post anywhere they feel necessary!”
Despite her untimely death, Kimber’s generous spirit continues to shine.
Facing the severity of her injuries, the family made the selfless decision to honor her wish to become an organ donor.
“She has too much trauma to her brain,” Ashley said. “She is breathing on her own with an assisted breathing machine… We do have her on a DNR because we don’t want to hurt her anymore trying to bring her back. We’ve already got it set up for her to be an organ donor because that’s what she wanted.”
A final “honor walk” was held at UAB Hospital as staff lined the halls to pay tribute while Kimber was taken into surgery for organ donation.
“It was just a lot of tears and hugs and goodbyes and to me it was God’s will,” recalled Jerrita Hollis, who witnessed the event.
Final act
Through her donation, Kimber will give others a chance to experience milestones she never got to: graduations, weddings, even just another breath of life.
“Nationally, there’s about 100,000 people waiting for an organ donation, but in our state we have 1,200 people approximately waiting,” said Ann Rayburn, director of education for Legacy of Hope, to WBRC.
“What I think about is that each of those numbers is somebody’s sister, mother, father, brother — somebody’s loved one that needs that transplant.”
For the Mills family, knowing that pieces of Kimber’s spirit will live on in others offers a glimmer of hope.
“Seeing donor families really become friends of the recipient and their family, and travel to watch the recipient play softball when it’s a child, and invite recipients to be part of a wedding for the donor family — those kinds of lifelong relationships are really impactful,” Rayburn said.
Even in the wake of heartbreak, Kimber Mills’ kindness, her “little spunk,” and her loving nature will continue to touch lives for years to come. Through the lives she saves, her light will never fade.
If you want to become an organ donor, you can sign up at LegacyofHope.org or just say “yes” the next time you renew your driver’s license.
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