A 19-year-old, Christian Archen Whalen, was tragically shot and killed while trying to break up a fight during a bonfire party in the woods of Spotsylvania County, Virginia, early Sunday morning. His girlfriend, Lacy Milling, had warned him not to go, and heartbreakingly discovered his fate through a two-word text from his father, reported by the New York Post.
Whalen was attending the party with a large group just after midnight when a fight broke out between partygoers. According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office, Whalen was shot in the lower extremity as he attempted to intervene and de-escalate the situation.
Deputies responded to the scene at around 1 a.m. after receiving reports of a shooting and found Whalen fighting for his life. “Deputies immediately began to render life-saving measures,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. One of the deputies loaded Whalen into a cruiser and rushed him to a rescue squad, but despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.
After interviewing multiple witnesses, authorities identified 18-year-old Kenneth Watson as the shooter. Watson has been charged with homicide and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. He is currently being held without bond at the Rappahannock Regional Jail. The investigation into the shooting is ongoing.
Whalen’s girlfriend, Milling, who had been dating him for over a year, revealed that she had tried to convince him not to attend the party. As her texts went unanswered, she became increasingly worried. Her worst fears were confirmed when she saw social media posts offering prayers for Whalen.
“He would help anybody, even if it came down to his worst enemy,” Milling said, remembering her boyfriend as the “kindest person” who avoided conflict. The couple had dreamed of starting a family together, and Milling expressed her heartbreak over losing that future. “He took what I wanted the most, which was almost a family to grow up with,” she tearfully shared.
In a final message to Milling, Whalen apologized, saying, “I’m sorry that I’m not the best person, but I love you.” Reflecting on his loss, Milling described him as “gentle, genuine, loyal, and caring,” and shared that he always told her, “I love you & thank you,” before leaving, because “the next 30 minutes isn’t promised.”
A crowdfunding page has been set up by Milling to support Whalen’s family with funeral expenses.