Additional Coverage:
Illegal Immigrant Accused of Killing Loyola Student Found Hiding Behind Lighthouse Before Fatal Shooting
CHICAGO – Prosecutors revealed chilling new details in the case of Sheridan Gorman, the Loyola University Chicago student fatally shot on a Rogers Park pier earlier this year. According to court statements, the suspect, Jose Medina-Medina, 25, was hiding behind a lighthouse before suddenly chasing and shooting at the group of friends with Gorman.
The shooting occurred shortly after 1 a.m. on March 19. Medina-Medina, who entered the United States illegally in May 2023 and was subsequently released under federal immigration policies, allegedly fired at Gorman and her friends as they gathered on the pier.
Gorman reportedly noticed Medina-Medina’s presence behind the lighthouse and warned her friends before the suspect gave chase. She was struck in the upper back and died at the scene.
Gorman’s family issued a poignant statement after the hearing, emphasizing the tragic normalcy of her actions that night. “Sheridan was doing something completely ordinary-something any parent would expect their child to be able to do safely,” they said.
“And yet, she is not here. That is what we carry with us today.”
Defense attorneys have painted a complex picture of Medina-Medina’s background. His lawyer disclosed that while in Colombia, Medina-Medina suffered a gunshot wound to the head, resulting in significant brain injury and impairing his cognitive abilities.
He reportedly has the brain development of a child, cannot read or write, and suffers from epilepsy, with bullet fragments still lodged in his brain. Medina-Medina turned himself in at the Texas border last year, was detained, and later released.
He reportedly requested to return to Colombia but was instead transported to Chicago. During his time in a migrant shelter, he contracted tuberculosis, which has delayed court proceedings.
At a recent hearing conducted via Zoom, family and friends of Gorman attended to hear the judge’s ruling to detain Medina-Medina pending trial. The family acknowledged the human complexities behind the suspect’s story but underscored that it cannot overshadow the loss of Sheridan’s life. “There is a difference between understanding a life and excusing a loss,” they stated.
Legal experts note the judge’s stern stance was expected, with immigration authorities filing a detainer to hold Medina-Medina in custody. His next detention hearing was postponed as he continues treatment for tuberculosis.
Sheridan Gorman, a native of Yorktown Heights, New York, was remembered in an obituary as a bright, compassionate young woman who made those around her feel valued and loved. Her family firmly rejected any suggestion that she put herself in danger that night.
“She was exactly where she was supposed to be-living her life, surrounded by friends, doing something entirely normal,” they said. “There was nothing reckless, nothing unusual, nothing that should have placed her in danger.”
The family posed a broader question, urging reflection on community safety: “How does something like this happen in a place where a young woman should have been safe? That is not a political question. It is a human one.”
Authorities say the shooting appeared to be an ambush, with initial reports indicating the suspect wore a face covering. Surveillance footage later captured Medina-Medina unmasked in his apartment building lobby.
Police identified him through facial recognition and immigration records. Court documents also reveal Medina-Medina was living in a city shelter for migrants in Rogers Park and had a prior shoplifting charge for which he failed to appear in court.
Medina-Medina faces multiple charges, including murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and illegal possession of a weapon. The case continues to develop as the community grapples with the tragic loss of Sheridan Gorman.