One Mistake Was All It Took — How Chicago Police Caught the Suspect in Loyola Student Murder

An illegal immigrant has been accused of shooting and killing a freshman college student in Chicago. The incident took place on March 19 at 1:06 a.m., when the victim, 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, was walking in a park with her friends.

Gorman was at Tobey Prinz Beach near her college, Loyola University, hoping to see the Northern Lights. At this point, a masked individual approached the group and opened fire. Gorman was shot in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities have now identified the suspect as 25-year-old Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national. Following the shooting, Medina allegedly entered the back complex of his apartment building. He was caught on surveillance camera without his mask while waiting for an elevator. A building engineer helped police identify the suspect by telling them that Medina had a very specific limp and gait.

According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Medina entered the U.S. illegally in 2023. Although he was arrested by the Border Patrol, DHS says the Biden administration decided to release him into the U.S. anyway. In June 2023, he was arrested again for a shoplifting incident, but was once again set free.

As the Chicago Police collected images of Medina from the surveillance camera, they checked them in a police database. Owing to his previous arrests, the DHS was able to identify him. Medina was arrested on March 20 and has been charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, and aggravated assault with discharge.

The accused will be presented before the court on March 27. The motive behind the crime remains unclear for now, but police say the shooting was not targeted. Meanwhile, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued an arrest detainer to ensure Medina is not released from prison this time.

“We are calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods,” Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said in an official statement.

The incident has also taken a political turn as President Donald Trump seized the opportunity to target former President Joe Biden. He told the media, “This person came in through the open door policy of Joe Biden, and we have others. We’re taking them out by the tens of thousands. We’re doing a great job, but it’s a shame.”

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker then hit back and said the federal government should not politicize a tragedy. “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,” the governor’s office said.

Meanwhile, Gorman’s family continues to deal with overwhelming grief. In a statement, the family said their daughter had her whole life ahead of her, which was taken away through no fault of her own. “We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime,” the family said.

They added that they will fight for justice for Gorman and ensure that she is not forgotten. “This cannot be just another case that fades from public attention. Sheridan's life mattered. What happened to her matters,” the statement further read.