Charges Filed Against Jose Medina in Murder of Sheridan Gorman
Jose Medina charged Loyola student murder Chicago 2026
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) formally filed charges on Sunday, March 22, 2026, against 25-year-old Jose Medina in connection with the fatal shooting of Loyola University Chicago freshman Sheridan Gorman.
Medina, a resident of the Rogers Park neighborhood, faces one felony count of first-degree murder, one felony count of attempted first-degree murder, and three felony counts of aggravated assault involving the discharge of a firearm. Additionally, he has been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and carrying a firearm without a valid Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card.
According to official reports from The Loyola Phoenix, Medina was apprehended by officers on the evening of March 20 in the 6800 block of North Sheridan Road, just two blocks from the scene of the crime.
The tragic incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 19, as 18-year-old Gorman was walking with a group of friends near the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach. Investigators state that a masked gunman, later identified as Medina, approached the students and opened fire as they attempted to flee.
Gorman, a native of Westchester County, New York, sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. Surveillance footage played a critical role in the investigation, as police were able to identify the suspect in part due to a “distinct limp” captured on video.
While the motive remains under investigation, DHS and local sources suggest the shooting may have been an “apparent ambush,” though Alderwoman Maria Hadden previously noted there is no indication of a broader ongoing threat to the community.
The case has rapidly gained national attention following a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirming that Medina is a Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. illegally in May 2023.
DHS records indicate that Medina was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol and released into the country, later facing a shoplifting arrest in Chicago in June 2023 before being released again. In light of these revelations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has lodged an arrest detainer, and federal officials are calling on Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to ensure Medina is not released under the state’s sanctuary policies.
As the Loyola community continues to mourn at vigils held at the Madonna della Strada Chapel, Medina is scheduled to make his first court appearance for a detention hearing on Monday, March 23, at the Leighton Criminal Court Building.
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