Parents Detail Daughter's Final Moments Before Fatal Shooting in Chicago
The grieving parents of an 18-year-old college student have publicly shared the harrowing details of their daughter's final moments, revealing how she warned her friends to flee before being gunned down by an illegal immigrant in Chicago. Jessica and Thomas Gorman recounted the devastating events of the night they lost their daughter, Sheridan, a freshman at Loyola University.
A Nighttime Walk Turns Deadly
On March 19, at approximately 1:30 am, Sheridan was walking with friends along a pier on Lake Michigan when she encountered a masked man dressed entirely in black. 'He, like, moved towards her threateningly,' her mother Jessica told CBS News. 'She turned around and she warned her friends that there was a man with a gun and you need to run. And they ran.'
Thomas Gorman explained that his daughter managed to run about 40 feet before she was shot in the back and neck. Tragically, Sheridan was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving her family and community in shock.
Suspect Identified as Illegal Immigrant
Jose Medina-Medina, a 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated use of a firearm in connection with Sheridan's death. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Medina was apprehended by US Border Patrol while crossing the border in May 2023 but was subsequently released into the country.
DHS records also indicate that Medina was arrested for shoplifting at a Macy's department store in Chicago approximately one month after entering the United States. Chicago police have characterized the shooting as a random act of violence, though the investigation continues.
A Warning That Saved Lives
The Gormans were informed by authorities that their daughter's quick thinking likely saved the lives of her friends. 'Presumably, that's what we heard,' Jessica stated. 'They say it was a senseless tragedy. It wasn't. It was a murder. It was a preventable murder.'
Julie Koehler, the public defender representing Medina, provided context about her client's background in a statement to CBS News. She revealed that Medina had been shot in the head during a robbery in Colombia in 2018, resulting in significant brain damage that left him with 'the mental capacity of a child.'
However, the Gormans strongly dispute this characterization, arguing that Medina demonstrated sufficient mental capacity to carry out the alleged crime. 'He had the mental capacity and the wherewithal to buy a gun, to have a mask on, and to be waiting,' Jessica asserted. 'The mask was on, and he had a gun pointed at my daughter when she passed him.'
Political Fallout and National Debate
The tragic killing has ignited a fierce political debate about immigration policy at both state and national levels. Former President Donald Trump referenced Sheridan's death during remarks at the National Republican Congressional Committee's annual fundraising dinner, directly blaming President Joe Biden's immigration policies.
'A precious 18-year-old college student named Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed while walking in a park, innocently,' Trump stated. 'The illegal alien monster charged with Sheridan's murder had come illegally from Venezuela and had been released into our country by Sleepy Joe Biden.' Trump also criticized Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago's sanctuary city policies, later calling the killing 'devastating' and promising to address immigration enforcement.
Illinois officials have pushed back against these characterizations. Governor Pritzker described the case as a 'terrible tragedy' while arguing that failures extend beyond state boundaries and reflect broader national issues, including the absence of comprehensive immigration reform. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson similarly criticized federal enforcement priorities, suggesting they do not adequately address public safety realities.
The case has been mentioned multiple times during White House press conferences, highlighting how Sheridan Gorman's death has become a focal point in the ongoing national conversation about immigration, crime, and public safety.
