Shocking texts allegedly reveal sinister plan by teacher and her boyfriend to groom, sex traffic her student



Shocking text messages allegedly have revealed a sinister plan by a Nebraska high school teacher and her boyfriend to groom and sex traffic her 16-year-old student.

Police said 36-year-old Elizabeth Jamie Love and her boyfriend, 42-year-old Jarid "Jack" Krause, were arrested Friday.

'It's a huge risk. We might not find the right girl for us.'

The Phelps County Attorney’s Office charged both suspects with one count of sex trafficking of a minor (a Class IB Felony). Love also was hit with a charge of sexual grooming by a school employee (a Class IV Felony).

If convicted, Love and Krause face up to life in prison and a lifetime on the Nebraska Sex Offender Registry.

Love and Krause were booked into the Phelps County Jail and held on bonds of $250,000 cash each, police stated.

Police noted that Love had been a transition coordinator and educator in the Educational Service Unit No. 11 for several years, during which she traveled to as many as 15 schools in the south-central part of Nebraska.

The Holdrege Police Department said in a statement, "The investigation into Ms. Love and Mr. Krause began after a current high school student, whom Ms. Love was instructing through her employment as a transition coordinator and teacher in ESU-11, reported inappropriate interactions with the couple over the past few weeks."

RELATED: Ex-middle school teacher — guilty of 21 counts of sex crimes against daughter's underage babysitter — learns her fate

Police said the investigation began Oct. 14 after reports of possible sex abuse of a 16-year-old student.

Authorities said Love communicated with the teen through text messages, Facebook Messenger, and non-school email addresses.

Citing the arrest affidavit, People magazine reported that the alleged victim is a girl who told investigators she and Love "developed a close relationship, which has evolved into talking about things going on in [her] life beyond the normal scope of a speech therapist/educator."

The alleged victim said she had worked with Love since she was in seventh grade, according to the affidavit.

Court documents said the teen told investigators she considered moving into Love's home in Holdrege on weekdays so she could attend a school in another district.

The student said she was in Love's car in August when Love had a phone conversation with Krause, the affidavit stated.

During the phone call, Krause said he wanted to have sex with Love, and Love later told the student she "would be willing to share" Krause, according to the arrest affidavit.

The student said she was supposed to attend the state fair with Love that day, but the conversation made her so "uncomfortable" that she called her aunt to pick her up, court documents said.

During an alleged incident on Oct. 11, Love picked up the teen from her home and took her to Love's house, court documents said.

People magazine reported, "The student alleged that while she was there, Krause led her to an upstairs bedroom and made a request she believed was for sex."

'We'll find the girl that appreciates us for what we are and provide. Someone who sees the value of our family and one that loves us both more than anything.'

The outlet added that the alleged victim declined Krause's advances and asked to leave.

The affidavit said the student left the house and began walking home until Love picked up the teen in a car and drove the alleged victim home.

Nebraska-TV reported, "The affidavit said the girl told investigators Love apologized to her, told her not to tell anyone, and gave her $100 in $20 increments."

When police later interviewed Love, the educator insisted the payments were not intended as "hush money" but rather a gift to help the girl purchase a new cell phone, according to court documents.

Citing text messages revealed in the affidavit, People magazine reported that Love and Krause "spoke about the student as early as April, before seemingly planning to proposition the student for sex in August" and to determine "if she's not feeling it."

The affidavit also said the couple discussed developing a "code phrase" to use that would "help [Love] know if she's interested or not."

Another text message revealed in the affidavit indicated Love told Krause she hoped the proposition "works out" and added that "if she doesn't want to, then I'll keep looking."

Krause messaged Love about "[finding] our person," according to the affidavit.

"We'll find the girl that appreciates us for what we are and provide. Someone who sees the value of our family and one that loves us both more than anything," Krause wrote to Love, according to court documents.

The affidavit claimed Love then asked Krause if they should "start the paperwork for foster care."

According to court documents, Krause replied, "Do you think it's time for that? It's a huge risk. We might not find the right girl for us."

The arrest affidavit said Love responded, "I know. But I also don't have to take them all. Even though I want to. Haha."

ESU-11 administrator John Poppert told Blaze News that Love was placed on administrative leave "as soon as the ESU learned of the allegations."

"The ESU has cooperated fully with the Holdrege Police Department investigation," Poppert noted. "The administration also contacted the ESU’s attorney. We will continue to work closely with law enforcement, and we thank them for their efforts in this matter."

During the investigation, the Holdrege Police Department received assistance from the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department, Kearney Police Department, Minden Police Department, the Nebraska State Patrol, and the Nebraska Department of Justice.

Police said investigators have yet to find any evidence that Love had inappropriate interactions with other current or former students.

The investigation is ongoing.

Anyone with information about this case is urged to contact the Holdrege Police Department at 308-995-4407.

The Holdrege Police Department and the Phelps County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to Blaze News' request for comment.

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19-year-old fatally attacked 52-year-old worker at Chick-fil-A with knife and hammer, police say



A 19-year-old man was arrested for attacking and killing a 52-year-old delivery worker at Chick-fil-A in the middle of the night, Illinois police say.

Darryl Lee Jr. of Kankakee allegedly broke into the restaurant at about 3 a.m. and attacked Tracey Land of Bridgeview with a knife and hammer.

'The guy got my son on the floor, so I got out of the car, and I was trying to get him away from my son so he couldn't hit my son anymore.'

Land died from the alleged attack.

Lee then reportedly attacked a 20-year-old maintenance worker at the same location. The man was stabbed but fought with Lee and was able to subdue him until police arrived.

He was helped by his mother, who was also a maintenance worker and happened to be in a car nearby and rushed in to help her son.

"There were hitting each other," she said anonymously to WLS-TV. "The guy got my son on the floor, so I got out of the car, and I was trying to get him away from my son so he couldn't hit my son anymore."

Lee was charged with nearly a dozen counts related to the incident, including the following:

  • First-degree murder, a class M felony
  • Attempted first-degree murder, a class X felony
  • Concealment of homicidal death, a class 3 felony
  • Aggravated battery, a class 3 felony
  • Armed robbery, a class X felony
  • Armed violence, a class X felony
  • Burglary, a class 2 felony

Oswego Police transported Lee to the Kendall County Jail.

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"This was an unprovoked attack and resulted in a tragic loss of life. Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and everyone affected by this tragic incident," reads a statement from Oswego Police Chief Jason Bastin.

"We are grateful for the bravery of those who intervened and for the coordinated response from our officers, fire personnel, and assisting agencies," he added.

WGN-TV reported that Lee's defense attorney expressed concern that he was not fit to stand trial.

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Mass shootings at, near 2 historically black colleges on their homecoming weekends raise concerns about possible deadly trend



Mass shootings at and near a pair of historically black colleges and universities over their homecoming weekends Friday and Saturday left one dead and at least 11 wounded, authorities said.

The violence was an eerie repeat of tragedies that took place last fall at two HBCUs — also during their homecoming festivities — and some observers are concerned about a possible trend.

'This is becoming an every-year occurrence at a lot of schools.'

1 dead, 6 wounded at Lincoln University

At Lincoln University in Chester County, Pennsylvania — about an hour and 15 minutes west of Philadelphia — one person was killed and at least six people were wounded after a shooting Saturday evening, WHP-TV reported.

Officials identified one suspect as 21-year-old Zecqueous Morgan-Thompson, the station said, adding that court documents indicated he was charged with carrying a firearm without a license and was being held in Chester County Prison on $25,000 bail.

Officials said they believe the suspects did not attend homecoming with the intent to commit a mass shooting, WHP reported.

RELATED: Black men don’t want to go to historically black colleges and universities? Here's why

A 25-year-old male from Wilmington, Delaware, was identified as the deceased victim, the station said, adding that he reportedly was shot in the head. The six wounded victims are expected to survive and are in the same age range — between 20 and 25 years old, WHP said.

Lincoln University's president in a Sunday statement said classes are canceled Monday in order to have a day of "healing and reflection," the station said.

More from WHP:

Authorities have not released the names of any victims. The DA said they were in the process of speaking with victims to learn more about what happened during the shooting.

Lincoln University's police chief said the shots were fired in the parking lot of the International Cultural Center on campus. He said at the time there was a tailgate ceremony taking place following the college's homecoming football game. He said tents and other tables were set up throughout the lot.

5 wounded near Howard University

Five people were shot near Howard University — a historically black college and university in Washington, D.C. — on Friday night during its homecoming weekend, WRC-TV reported.

D.C. police said the victims — four adults and a teenager — were taken to hospitals and were expected to survive after the shooting at Georgia Avenue and Howard Place, the station said.

Witnesses told WRC that dozens of people ran down Georgia Avenue from the shooting scene to a McDonald's after shots were fired.

RELATED: President Biden warns Howard University graduates: 'The most dangerous terrorist threat to our homeland is white supremacy'

According to a statement from Howard University, a fight or confrontation between two suspects occurred before shots were fired, WRC reported, adding that police said none of the shooting victims are Howard students.

The university added in a Saturday statement that nobody from Howard was involved in the shooting, the station reported.

WRC said the university's Homecoming Kick-Off Alumni & Friends Welcome Reception and the Greek Step Show were being held Friday night.

'Something's going on'

The Root, in its report about the pair of shootings, quoted a TikTok user as remarking, “First Howard, now Lincoln, something’s going on."

The outlet added, "Among the jokes and quippy TikToks is something darker ... Black Americans are feeling unsafe."

The Root said another TikTok user recalled shootings last year at HBCUs and wondered if this represents a trend. Another user said, “This is becoming an every-year occurrence at a lot of schools, smh," according to the outlet.

Last fall, two shootings occurred at two HBCUs — also during their homecoming weekends.

A dozen people were shot — one of them fatally — at Tuskegee University in Alabama last November. The deceased individual, an 18-year-old, reportedly died at the scene. One man reportedly was charged with possession of a machine gun in connection with the shooting. A month prior, five people were shot — one fatally — in a crowded area near a campus concert at Albany State University in Georgia.

Following the 2024 HBCU shootings, an Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter penned an op-ed stating that there is a "growing and disturbing trend of gun violence that is threatening to change the nature of Black colleges' most sacred institution — homecoming."

The AJC reporter, Ernie Suggs, added:

In 2022, four people, including three students, were wounded near Clark Atlanta University after a drive-by shooting during a homecoming celebration.

In 2023, five people, including four students, were shot at Morgan State University. It was the third consecutive year that homecoming festivities at the Baltimore school were marred by gunfire.

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Florida teacher arrested, hit with charges of indecent liberties with a minor from another state



A former teacher was arrested in Florida for alleged child sex crimes committed in another state.

Jordan Kacie Hawk, 26, was arrested Tuesday.

'The incidents took place earlier this year when Ms. Hawk was teaching at a local school and involved a juvenile student.'

WPLG-TV reported that Hawk was "wanted by police in the Charlotte suburb of Kannapolis, North Carolina."

The arrest report said Hawk had an active warrant from the Kannapolis Police Department since Oct. 17.

Miami-Dade Corrections and Rehabilitation records show Hawk is being detained for a fugitive warrant and awaiting extradition out of state.

The Kannapolis Police Department in North Carolina told Blaze News that Hawk was charged with four counts of taking indecent liberties with a minor.

"The incidents took place earlier this year when Ms. Hawk was teaching at a local school and involved a juvenile student," police in North Carolina stated.

N.C. police said Hawk is "expected to be extradited to North Carolina and taken into custody by the Kannapolis Police Department."

WPLG reported that Hawk "indicated that she wanted to waive extradition proceedings to North Carolina" during a court appearance Wednesday.

RELATED: Female ex-teacher, cheerleading coach indicted, accused of sexual misconduct with student

Hawk reportedly lost her job at a Florida elementary school.

Citing a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrest report, WPLG reported that Hawk was listed as a social studies teacher at Miami Lakes K-8 Center.

A spokesperson for Miami-Dade County Public Schools told WTVJ-TV that it was "aware of the arrest of a Miami Lakes K-8 Center employee for an alleged incident that occurred out of state."

"M-DCPS is cooperating with authorities involved in this matter," the school district spokesperson added. "The individual’s employment has been terminated and will be prohibited from future employment with this district."

Authorities in North Carolina have 30 days to pick up Hawk, or else she will be released from jail in Miami, according to WTVJ.

The Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Blaze News.

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D.C. Del. Norton, Reportedly In ‘Early Stages Of Dementia,’ Scammed By Suspects Masquerading As Home Cleaning Crew

The Democrat personally allowed the group claiming to be HVAC personnel into her home in D.C.'s Southeast quadrant

Hero cousins — just 9 and 11 — step up in a big way when they notice trouble at their favorite ice cream shop



Aaron Roesch opened his new ice cream shop in south St. Louis a month ago — and it's quickly become a favorite gathering place for kids in the neighborhood.

Roesch told KTVI-TV in its video report that youngsters often will come into his shop — Aunt Jamie's Frozen Custard and Waffles, named after his aunt and godmother — and "just hang out and do their homework and draw."

'Help people. Be nice to all your adults and peers. Be nice to your elders, and be respectful to your elders.'

Of course, there's always the prospect of sweet treats as well.

"Like, he give us everything," 9-year-old Adonis Pickens told KSDK-TV. "He give us free stuff."

Pickens' cousin, 11-year-old Jayceon Cooper, added to KSDK that he and Adonis are regulars and come to Aunt Jamie's "almost every day, if he open."

But Roesch also noted to KSDK that the boys "immediately were trying to help me ... and they would work for ice cream and snow cones."

"These fellows have become my friends," the shop owner told KTVI, with Jayceon adding, "We're like his little buddies."

Well, the camaraderie the trio share deepened last week when Jayceon and Adonis noticed something disturbing as they approached their favorite ice cream shop on South Broadway and Krauss Street.

RELATED: Blaze News original: 10 inspiring examples of Good Samaritans who ran toward danger to help others, often defeating bad guys

"We came out here to try to buy some ice cream, and his window was just shattered," Adonis told KTVI. "So we just started hearing noise, so I just said, 'Who's in here?'"

A male inside the shop told them he was bleeding, KSDK reported — but it turned out to be red syrup on his clothes.

The boys said the alleged burglar was stuck in the shop, KTVI added, and Adonis called Roesch's number — but when he didn’t answer, Adonis called police.

The cousins kept the guy in the shop talking until officers arrived, KSDK said.

The 42-year-old male suspect told police he broke into the ice cream shop because he thought people were following him, KSDK reported, adding that the suspect was taken into custody.

Ephraim Hayes. Image source: St. Louis Police

St. Louis Police told Blaze News that the St. Louis City Circuit Attorney's Office charged Ephraim Hayes with second-degree burglary and first-degree property damage. Police added to Blaze News that court documents appear to indicate that a judge released Hayes on personal recognizance.

"If I didn't have a friendship with these kids, that guy would have walked away scot-free," Roesch later remarked to KTVI.

Jayceon added to KTVI that his friend Roesch doesn't deserve what happened to his shop after all he does for him and Adonis and the whole neighborhood: "I don't know why people do this to him. Like, he's a nice guy. He shouldn't be treated how people treat him."

RELATED: Lone man who stepped up and stopped brutal beating of elderly worker at rap concert tells why he intervened: 'Had to be done'

"I want this to be a lasting experience guiding their future in a positive direction," Roesch told Blaze News in regard to Jayceon and Adonis.

The good news is ramping up, as Roesch added to Blaze News that St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer is coming to Aunt Jamie's on Nov. 8 to present an award — and, of course, to "have an ice cream party."

Roesch told KSDK that the community also is growing: "The properties are coming back. The values increased over the past year, and the businesses are coming back."

But he added to KSDK that Jayceon and Adonis are the real story — and that their actions represent valuable lessons for everybody: "Help people. Be nice to all your adults and peers. Be nice to your elders, and be respectful to your elders."

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Store video shows man sucker punched from behind and left in coma — suspect claims self-defense



A Florida man has been arrested and charged with felony battery after surveillance video captured him sucker punching a man from behind, leaving him in a coma.

The incident unfolded at the entrance of an Aldi grocery store in Lauderdale Lakes on Oct. 11, according to the Broward Sheriff's Office.

'I've seen the video of this case, and it is just as brutal as described in the report.'

The video shows a man walking up to the victim, who has a service dog on a leash, and brutally punching him from behind, according to police. He falls to the ground and severely injures himself.

The victim was left hospitalized in a coma.

His family appealed to the public through the media to help the investigation identify a suspect.

Police arrested 45-year-old Dandrea Johnson 11 days later, after receiving tips from the public. He was charged with felony battery with great bodily harm, permanent disability, or permanent disfigurement.

Other video from the store shows that Johnson and the man had some kind of interaction prior to the attack. Johnson then waits by the entrance before the victims approaches prior to the attack.

"I've seen the video of this case, and it is just as brutal as described in the report," the prosecutor said in court. "There is nothing to indicate this was an act of self-defense, your Honor. Mr. Johnson left the Aldi's first. He stayed there at the entrance. When the victim left, the victim didn't approach him. Mr. Johnson sucker punched him, and now he's in a coma."

Johnson's defense attorney said in court that there was more to the story.

"The other man had a pit bull, and the pit bull attacked Mr. Johnson," he claimed.

RELATED: Man found dead outside Dollar Tree was beaten with a rock by another man riding a tricycle, police say

The prosecutor denied the claims from the defense.

"From what I saw, there was nothing that that dog was a threat to anyone. No one else was concerned," he said. “There is nothing to indicate this was an act of self-defense, your Honor."

Johnson was held on a $100,000 bond at the Broward County Jail.

Police said the investigation was ongoing, and they have not released the identity of the victim.

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Bret Baier humiliates Pritzker over big fat lie about Chicago's murder rate



Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) attempted in an interview on Thursday to once again gaslight Americans about the bloodletting in his state's most populous city. Evidently immune to the Democrat's latest deception, Fox News host Bret Baier shut down Pritzker's attempt and confronted him with the facts about Chicago's obscenely high murder rate.

"Why does Chicago have the highest murder rate of all the big cities?" asked Baier.

'JB Pritzker just flat out lied about an obvious fact.'

Pritzker, whom President Donald Trump recently suggested should be jailed, responded, "Well, we are not in the top 30 in terms of our murder rate. ... Our murder rate has been cut in half over the last four years, and every year it's gone down by double digits, and if you look at all of the violent crime over the last four years, they've all gone down."

Baier then pulled up a map highlighting the apparent murder rates for America's biggest cities. The graphic indicated that Chicago led the way in blood with a murder rate of 17.47 homicides per 100,000 people.

By way of comparison, the reported murder rate for: Philadelphia was 16.91; Dallas was 13.62; Houston was 13.8; San Antonio was 8.39; Phoenix was 8.36; Los Angeles was 6.95; and New York City was 4.5.

RELATED: Trump urges SCOTUS to unleash National Guard in Chicago amid protests, increase in violence against ICE

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

According to the Illinois-focused research nonprofit Wirepoints, Chicago ranked first last year for total murders out of the nation's 75 biggest cities, with 573 homicides. It also reportedly experienced the most homicides per capita among the nation's 20 biggest cities last year.

Chicago Police Department statistics indicate that as of Oct. 19, the city has seen 347 known homicides so far this year.

After Baier noted that "Chicago is number one over Philadelphia, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, Los Angeles, New York, and San Diego," Pritzker said, "Look, you can pull statistics up. I can too."

"No, no, no," said Baier. "These are murders."

"I'm explaining to you that our murder rate has been cut in half, and very importantly, Bret, and you gotta hear this, very importantly we’ve been doing the things that are necessary to bring crime down, right?" added the Democratic governor.

Critics had a field day with Pritzker's attempt to put a positive spin on Chicago's murder rate.

"JB Pritzker just flat out lied about an obvious fact," wrote Elon Musk.

Former National Rifle Association spokeswoman Dana Loesch wrote, "Cut in half and still number one. Great job, @GovPritzker."

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Cheerleader's final act of kindness: 'Hero' high school student gunned down at bonfire gives life to others



A high school cheerleader who dreamed of becoming a nurse was shot during a party in a wooded area of Alabama. The 18-year-old died after being taken off life support because her gunshot wounds were so severe.

Kimber Mills was a senior at Cleveland High School, where she also ran track.

'We shouldn’t be burying our little sister.'

Mills was attending a bonfire party over the weekend in a wooded area known as "The Pit," according to AL.com.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said in a statement that deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the town of Pinson just before 12:30 a.m. Sunday

"Upon arrival, deputies discovered three victims suffering from apparent gunshot wounds: a 21-year-old male, an 18-year-old male, and an 18-year-old female," the sheriff's office stated, adding that all three were taken to area hospitals.

Trussville Police Chief Eric Rush said Mills was shot in the head and the leg.

The sheriff's office later learned that a fourth shooting victim, a 20-year-old female, had been transported to a hospital in a personal vehicle.

The three surviving victims have non-life-threatening injuries.

Police said the preliminary investigation indicated that a "verbal and physical altercation escalated and resulted in gunfire."

Kimber's sister, Ashley Mills, told AL.com that the alleged shooter was trying to talk to one of Kimber's friends, offering her drinks, and trying to get close to her.

"The girl told her boyfriend, a fight involving multiple people ensued, and shots were fired," AL.com reported.

Ashley Mills said, "Kimber was caught in the crossfire."

The sheriff's office named 27-year-old Steven Tyler Whitehead as the shooter. The suspect remains in custody at the Jefferson County Jail. Whitehead is being held without bond.

Whitehead initially was charged with three counts of attempted murder. However, an additional charge of murder was filed against Whitehead on Wednesday after Mills died.

Image source: Jefferson County (Ala.) Sheriff's Office

Mills was taken to the University of Alabama Hospital in critical condition, but Ashley Mills said there was "too much trauma to her brain," and Kimber was placed on a breathing machine.

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

But Kimber had already decided to be an organ donor — to give others a chance at life.

"We’ve already got it set up for her to be an organ donor because that’s what she wanted,” Ashley said.

Ashley Mills told WBRC that Kimber’s heart and lungs have already been matched with recipients.

On Tuesday, the hospital staff joined Mills' family and friends for an Honor Walk — a ceremony during which medical staff line the hallway to honor a patient before being transported to the Legacy of Hope organ center roughly two blocks away.

Kimber’s brother, Michael Mills, led a prayer in the hallway.

"Heavenly Father, thank you Lord for this young woman, my sister, I love her so much Lord," Michael prayed. "I pray for swift hands of the surgeons, Lord, that we do what needs to be done to save other lives Lord."

Michael continued. "I pray no fear, no sadness Lord, no hatred. Thank you, Lord, for Kimber. Please protect us in these uncertain times."

A Legacy of Hope representative told AL.com, "Today we stand in awe of a true hero, giving of themselves so that others may live."

"May the recipients enjoy restored health and recognize the magnitude of such a rare and remarkable gift," the spokesperson stated. "Thank you, Kimber, for the life-saving legacy you are leaving behind. We honor you today and always."

RELATED: University of Kentucky cheerleader arrested after allegedly stashing her dead baby in garbage bag, hiding body in closet

Mills died Tuesday when she was taken off life support, WBRC reported.

"We shouldn’t be burying our little sister. It should be the other way around," Ashley Mills said. "It's supposed to go from oldest to youngest not youngest first."

According to WBRC-TV, Rodney Green, superintendent of Blount County Schools, released the following statement:

Our school district is deeply saddened today to learn of the passing of one of our students, Ms. Kimber Mills. Kimber was a bright, outgoing senior cheerleader for Cleveland High School. Kimber’s smile and infectious personality will certainly be missed, but she will always be remembered. Our heart is burdened for her family and for the impact this will have on the students, faculty, and staff at Cleveland High School. Please keep our Cleveland Family in your thoughts and prayers! I do want to thank everyone that has reached out to this family and supported them during this tragedy.

AL.com reported that Kimber was planning to attend the University of Alabama next year with a dream of becoming a nurse.

A GoFundMe campaign was launched to help support Mills' family, which cited Psalm 34:18: "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed."

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Blaze News.

Anyone with information related to the shooting is urged to contact the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 205-325-1450 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.

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