Trending Now - Loyola Chicago Mourns Freshman Killed in Campus Shooting
WHO:
Jessica Gorman, mother of Sheridan Gorman, expressed her grief and called for justice in a statement: "I really hate saying this, but Chicago, we trusted you with our hearts and you betrayed us. … We need answers. We need accountability, and we will not stop until the person who did this is found and locked up."
Kim Johnson, a faculty member at Loyola University Chicago, described Sheridan Gorman as "always the first person who would hug me at a group, and she was always the last person, too."
Sheridan Gorman, 18-year-old student at Loyola University Chicago
Mark Reed, President of Loyola University Chicago
Ron Hattar, Superintendent of Yorktown Central School District
WHAT:
Hundreds of students gathered at the Madonna Della Strada Chapel for a vigil honoring Sheridan Gorman on March 19th, 2026.
The vigil was attended by students and faculty, with many sharing memories of Gorman's kindness and impact on the community.
Sheridan Gorman was shot in the head and killed while walking with friends.
The shooting occurred when an unknown male approached the group and opened fire.
Gorman was pronounced dead at the scene; no other injuries were reported.
The university is offering counseling services and has scheduled a vigil for Thursday evening.
WHERE:
The vigil took place at the Madonna Della Strada Chapel, located at 6453 N. Kenmore Ave., Chicago, Illinois.
The incident occurred near Tobey Prinz Beach Park, less than 1 mile from Loyola University Chicago's Lake Shore campus.
The shooting took place in the 1000 block of West Pratt Boulevard, Rogers Park, Chicago, Illinois.
WHEN:
The vigil occurred on March 19th, 2026, just hours after the shooting incident.
The shooting occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. on March 19th, 2026.
A campus safety alert was sent to students on March 19th, 2026.
WHY:
Police stated that Gorman was not the intended target in the shooting.
The family of Sheridan Gorman described her death as murder and expressed their grief in a statement.
HOW:
Thomas Murray, Loyola’s director of campus safety, confirmed that the gunman was wearing a mask during the shooting incident.
The suspect approached the group and began shooting in their direction while wearing a face covering.
Chicago police are investigating potential ties to other recent incidents of violence in the area.
(UPDATED March 20, 2026 23:07 UTC)
Hundreds of students gathered at the Madonna Della Strada Chapel in Chicago on March 19 to honor Sheridan Gorman, just hours after a tragic shooting incident. Jessica Gorman, Sheridan's mother, expressed her heartbreak and called for justice, stating, "We need answers. We need accountability, and we will not stop until the person who did this is found and locked up." Faculty member Kim Johnson remembered Sheridan as a warm presence, saying she was always the first to offer a hug and the last to leave a gathering, highlighting the profound impact she had on her community.
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(UPDATED March 20, 2026 15:12 UTC)
In a tragic incident early last Monday, 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed while walking with friends near Tobey Prinz Beach Park, just a mile from Loyola University Chicago's campus. The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. when an unknown male approached the group and opened fire, with police confirming that Gorman was not the intended target; she was pronounced dead at the scene, and no other injuries were reported. In response to this devastating event, the university is offering counseling services and has scheduled a vigil for Thursday evening as the investigation continues into potential connections to other recent violence in the area.