An 18-year-old college freshman was gunned down by an illegal immigrant who should have been deported years ago, exposing catastrophic failures in sanctuary city policies that prioritize criminal aliens over American citizens.
Story Snapshot
- Loyola University Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot by Venezuelan illegal immigrant Jose Medina, who had a prior arrest and failed court appearance
- Medina entered the U.S. illegally in 2023, was arrested for retail theft, skipped court, yet remained free in sanctuary city Chicago
- Governor JB Pritzker faced intense criticism for delayed response while defending sanctuary policies that enabled this preventable tragedy
- Federal authorities issued an ICE detainer, but local officials insist on prosecuting first, highlighting ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement
Another Preventable Death in a Sanctuary City
Sheridan Gorman, 18, was simply enjoying a nighttime walk with friends near Tobey Prinz Beach in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood when 25-year-old Jose Medina allegedly emerged from behind a lighthouse and shot her in the back. The bullet exited through her neck, killing the New York native who had her entire life ahead of her. Medina, wearing all black and a mask, fled to his apartment just 1.5 blocks away after the senseless attack. This wasn’t a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, according to Gorman’s family—this was a failure of systems designed to protect Americans.
A Criminal History Chicago Ignored
Medina’s presence on American streets represents everything wrong with current immigration enforcement. The Venezuelan national entered the United States illegally in 2023 during the Biden administration and was encountered by Border Patrol but released. By September 2023, Chicago police arrested him for retail theft at Macy’s. He was released on bond and promptly failed to appear in court, resulting in an active warrant. Despite being an illegal immigrant with an outstanding warrant, Medina remained free to roam Chicago’s streets under the city’s sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This willful negligence created the conditions for Gorman’s murder.
Swift Arrest Cannot Undo Policy Failures
Chicago police deserve credit for rapid investigative work following the shooting. Surveillance cameras tracked Medina’s distinctive slow gait back to his Sheridan Road apartment, where a building engineer recognized him after he removed his mask. Officers arrested him Friday night, March 20, just one block from the crime scene and recovered a matching .40-caliber handgun from his residence. Medina now faces first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and unlawful possession of a weapon charges. However, his scheduled Monday court appearance was postponed because he required tuberculosis treatment at Illinois Masonic Hospital, adding another concerning dimension to his illegal presence in the country.
Pritzker’s Response Draws Fire
Governor JB Pritzker’s office issued a statement condemning the murder and calling for full accountability, but critics noted the delayed response and his continued defense of sanctuary policies. His office attempted to deflect criticism by attacking what they termed politicization by the Trump administration while simultaneously requesting federal violence prevention funds. Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza called for full prosecution followed by deportation, but Pritzker’s administration maintains that local prosecution must take priority before any federal immigration actions. This stance directly contradicts federal authorities who argue Medina should never have been free to commit this crime. The Department of Homeland Security filed an ICE detainer, confirming Medina has been in the country illegally since 2023 and emphasizing that prior releases directly enabled this tragedy.
A Family Demands Justice and Accountability
Gorman’s family, represented by their attorney, made clear this murder was “violent and preventable,” stating that “systems fail with real consequences.” They reject any characterization of this as random violence, instead pointing to specific policy decisions and failures in coordination between local and federal authorities that allowed a known illegal immigrant with an active warrant to remain free. Cardinal Blase Cupich of the Archdiocese of Chicago highlighted the normalcy of Gorman’s activity—young people viewing the Chicago skyline—to underscore the devastating loss. The family’s grief is compounded by knowing their daughter’s death could have been prevented if existing laws had been enforced and sanctuary policies hadn’t shielded a criminal from immigration consequences. Their call for attention to this case reflects broader frustration among Americans watching preventable crimes committed by individuals who should have been removed from the country.
Hot Takes: Ted Cruz, Others Level JB Pritzker After Gov Belatedly Weighs in on Sheridan Gorman's Murderhttps://t.co/av83d0XK4x
— RedState (@RedState) March 24, 2026
Medina’s next court appearance is scheduled for Friday, March 26, pending his medical release from tuberculosis treatment. The evidence against him appears overwhelming—surveillance footage, the recovered weapon, ballistics matches, and witness accounts. Yet the larger questions remain unanswered: How many more Sheridan Gormans must die before sanctuary cities prioritize American lives over ideology? The tension between federal immigration enforcement and local sanctuary policies continues to claim innocent victims, and no amount of after-the-fact prosecution can restore what these failed policies have taken from families like the Gormans.
Sources:
Suspect due in court for shooting death of Loyola Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman
Illegal Immigrant Charged With Murder of College Student Sheridan Gorman
