Venezuelan migrant charged in murder of Loyola student misses court due to hospitalization

CHICAGO - A Venezuelan migrant accused of gunning down a Loyola University freshman did not appear in court Monday for his detention hearing due to being hospitalized.

The backstory:

Jose Medina, 25, allegedly shot and killed 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman early Thursday while she was walking with friends near Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, according to Chicago police.

Medina was masked when he approached the group and began shooting in their direction on the beach's pier, striking Gorman in the back as she tried to flee. Gorman died at the scene.

Authorities said witness accounts, surveillance video and forensic evidence helped identify Medina as the suspect. Witnesses described the gunman as wearing all black with a mask and noted his distinct slow gait and limp. Audio recordings captured a single gunshot around 1:06 a.m., and surveillance video minutes later showed a man matching that description walking away from the scene.

Police tracked the suspect to a nearby apartment building on North Sheridan Road, where video showed him entering through a rear entrance and later appearing in the lobby unmasked, holding a mask in his hand. A building engineer identified the man as a resident, and additional witnesses later confirmed he was the shooter after reviewing images.

Investigators used facial recognition technology, which identified Medina, and obtained a search warrant for his apartment. He was taken into custody inside the unit and transported to Area Three for processing.

He was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three felony counts of aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a firearm, all felonies.

Hours before charges were officially announced, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) filed an arrest detainer for Medina.

According to ICE, Medina was previously in custody and later released on May 9, 2023, as well as on June 19, 2023, after being arrested for shoplifting in Chicago.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear why Medina is in the hospital. His detention hearing has been moved back to a later undetermined date.

What they're saying:

"Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life. She was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who RELEASED this illegal alien TWICE before he went on to commit this heinous murder," said Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis. "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."

President Donald Trump was asked about the killing on Monday before heading to Florida on Air Force One. He called Gorman's death "devastating" and blamed the immigration policies of former President Joe Biden for Medina entering the country.

"These people were let in by Biden," Trump said. "We're getting them out. We're getting them out fast."

Trump also called Medina an "animal" and said he was briefed on the case.

"This person came in through the open-door policy of Joe Biden, and we're taking them out by the tens of thousands," he said. "It's a shame. They've hurt our country."

Gov. JB Pritzker also commented on Gorman's killing.

"Sheridan Gorman's murder is a tragedy — and the person responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law," Pritzker said. "My deepest condolences to the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving this devastating loss."

Sheridan Gorman remembered

Dig deeper:

"We are again faced with the unbearable truth: our daughter’s life was taken, and our family will never be the same," Sheridan Gorman's family said in a statement.

"Sheridan was the heart of our family. She had a rare ability to bring people together—to make others feel included, understood, and loved. She lived with intention, with faith, and with a kindness that defined who she was every single day. She was just beginning her journey, with so much ahead of her."

Dozens gathered Thursday evening at the university’s chapel for a vigil honoring Gorman, who was from Yorktown Heights, New York.

At the vigil, students, staff and community members expressed grief and fear following the violence.

"A friend texted me and let me know about it this morning," one Rogers Park resident said. "It was shocking, and it makes me anxious. People shouldn’t have to wake up and fear that their life is going to randomly get taken."

A Loyola professor said the loss is especially painful for the campus community.

"It hurts in a very specific way when it’s a part of your community," the professor said. "It’s a very specific kind of pain. It's a renewed commitment to the people we work with and care about."

In a statement, Loyola University Chicago President Mark C. Reed said the school is mourning the loss.

"It is with profound sadness that I write to share that one of our students, Sheridan Gorman, was killed earlier today in an incident north of the Lake Shore Campus," Reed said. "This is a tragic loss, and our hearts go out to Sheridan’s family, loved ones, and all who knew her."

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