More details are coming to light in the shooting and killing of 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman, with prosecutors saying the suspect was hiding behind a lighthouse on a pier before he came out and shot her.
Jose G. Medina 25, was charged by Chicago police Friday with first-degree murder, attempted first degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault/discharge of a firearm and one felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon/no Firearm Owners Identification Card.
Before Chicago police announced charges had been filed, Immigration and Customs Enforcement asked local authorities not to release Medina and issued an arrest detainer, the Department of Homeland Security said Sunday. A statement from DHS said Medina was a Venezuelan migrant who they said entered the United States illegally.
He was expected to appear in court Monday, but was hospitalized and did not attend the hearing. Court officials later said Medina was being treated at a hospital for tuberculosis.
A judge ordered him detained and appointed a public defender for a detention hearing scheduled for Friday.
As the case continues, here’s what we know so far.
What happened to Sheridan Gorman?
Early Thursday morning, Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student, was walking with friends from her dorm near Tobey Prinz Beach in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, when prosecutors said she and her friends went to the end of a pier to get a better look at the city and, according to her family, possibly even the northern lights.
As they walked to the end of the pier, someone came out from behind a lighthouse and shot her in the back, prosecutors said. Her friends fled and hid for cover, and Gorman was pronounced dead at the scene.
Police initially said Gorman was shot in the head. According to a campus safety from Loyola, the alleged gunman was wearing a mask at the time of the shooting.
Prosecutors in court Monday said security video from around the neighborhood tracked a suspect to his home, where officers found a handgun with bullets matching one that killed Gorman. He was identified by a building engineer and his mother.
What we know about the suspect
According to federal officials, Medina is an undocumented migrant from Venezuela.
Court documents show Medina faced a misdemeanor charge in 2023 for shoplifting. Medina did not show up for a hearing, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
At a press conference after Monday’s hearing, 15th Ward Ald. Ray Lopez said “individuals who choose to engage in dangerous, criminal behavior, if they are non-citizens, we should not give them welcome. We should not give them sanctuary.”
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza also spoke at the press conference, saying allowing Medina to go back out “has not curtailed his illegal behavior.”
“What she needs is justice,” Mendoza said. “And what he needs is to be held accountable. I don’t think anyone with any rational, common sense would say anything other than he’s a terrible risk to society.”
‘Violent and preventable act’
In a statement, Gorman’s family rejected any suggestion that the teen’s actions contributed to what occurred.
“We acknowledge the arrest of the individual accused of taking our daughter’s life and thank the Chicago Police Department, Area Three Detectives, and all those involved in the investigation who worked quickly to identify and apprehend him. Their efforts matter. But this is not justice—it is the first step toward it,” the statement read in part. “What Sheridan was doing that night—walking with friends near her campus—was normal. It was safe. It is what students do every day. We will not allow this to be dismissed as ‘wrong place, wrong time.’ This was not random misfortune. This was a violent and preventable act.”
The family also addressed information released by federal authorities regarding the accused’s prior encounters with the system.
“We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime. When systems fail—whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act—the consequences are not abstract. They are real. And in our case, they are permanent.,” the statement continued.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued a statement on the shooting decrying the politicizing of Gorman’s killing.
“Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving the senseless murder of Sheridan Gorman. Violent crime has no place in our streets, and we expect the alleged perpetrator to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Pritzker said in a statement. “The Trump Administration needs to stop politicizing heinous tragedies and instead focus on real solutions, like reinstating federal funds to prevent violence that support our public safety efforts.”
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