A young Alabama man is being hailed as a hero after he was shot ten times while trying to protect his friends during a deadly shooting that claimed the life of high school cheerleader Kimber Mills.

Silas McCay, 21, said he was shot in the leg, hip, rib cage, stomach, finger, pelvis, and thigh after confronting the gunman who opened fire during a bonfire in a wooded area known as “The Pit” in Pinson, Alabama.

“I look at her like a little sister to me,” McCay told WBRC. “I tried everything I could. I wish there was more I could’ve done.”

According to McCay, the suspect, 27-year-old Steven Tyler Whitehead, had been harassing Kimber before the violence broke out. “My ex-girlfriend came up to me at the party and said he was trying to do stuff to this girl named Kimber,” McCay said. “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 said he was struck ten times but survived. Kimber, however, was critically wounded — shot in the head and leg — and rushed to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Whitehead was arrested and charged with three counts of attempted murder. He is being held on a $180,000 bond.

Kimber’s sister, Ashley Mills, said the 18-year-old was “caught in the crossfire.” In a heartbreaking Facebook post, Ashley shared that Kimber passed away on October 21st, surrounded by family and friends. “Our sweet baby sister went to be with the Lord at 7:08 p.m. last night! She was and is so loved by so many. We will miss you, Kimber!” she wrote.

A senior at Cleveland High School, Kimber was known for her bright smile and compassionate heart. She was a member of the cheerleading squad and track team and had dreams of becoming a nurse. “She had a little spunk to her step,” Ashley said. “She has too much trauma to her brain,” she added, explaining that Kimber’s injuries were too severe for surgery. “We’ve already got it set up for her to be an organ donor because that’s what she wanted.”

Her cousin, Morgan Kaye Metz, wrote on Facebook that Kimber’s final act reflected her generous heart: “She is giving the greatest gift of all today — life. She was a blessing and now she gets to bless others.”

Classmate Rylie Cirbo told Fox News Digital that Kimber’s legacy will live on through her joyful spirit. “I’d much rather her be known for her sunshine personality and big smile rather than the tragedy,” she said. “She seemed like a very bright light in so many lives.”

Kimber had planned to attend the University of Alabama in 2026 and pursue a career in nursing. Though her time on earth was cut short, her faith, kindness, and courage continue to inspire those who knew her.

As the community mourns, many are finding comfort in knowing that Kimber’s light still shines through the lives she’s saved and the hearts she’s touched. Keep Kimber’s family, her friends, and those injured in the deadly bonfire shooting in prayer — asking God to bring healing, comfort, and peace. May the light of Christ surround all who are mourning, and may His love remind them that even in tragedy, hope endures.

UPDATE: Steven Tyler Whitehead, charged with murder in the death of 18-year-old Kimber Mills and attempted murder for wounding three others, was bonded out of the Jefferson County Jail on January 29, 2026, after a judge set bond at $330,000. As a condition of his release, Whitehead must wear an electronic monitoring device.