Trending Now - Loyola Student's Murder Sparks Outrage Over Suspect's Background
WHO:
Jose Medina is a Venezuelan national who was apprehended by Border Patrol on May 9th, 2023, but was allowed into the United States.
Cook County Judge Luciano Panici Jr. ordered Medina to be kept in custody in the interim.
Sheridan Gorman, 18, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago
Jose Medina, 25, charged with murder
Jessica Gorman, mother of Sheridan Gorman
Kim Johnson, faculty member at Loyola University
Lawrence Finer, fundraiser organizer
Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza
President Trump, former President Joe Biden
Panas in Chicago, a group working with Venezuelan migrants
WHAT:
Medina was arrested for retail theft in 2023, taking $132 worth of merchandise from Macy’s on North State Street.
A warrant for Medina's arrest was issued after he failed to appear in court on the theft charges.
Medina is hospitalized with tuberculosis, which delayed his court appearance originally scheduled for March 23rd, 2026.
Jose Medina was charged with murder on March 22nd, 2026.
Medina also faces one count of attempted murder, three felony counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm, and one felony count of unlawful possession of a weapon.
A GoFundMe for Sheridan Gorman's family raised over $130,000 as of March 22nd, 2026.
Gorman was shot in the back and pronounced dead at the scene on March 19th, 2026.
Surveillance video captured Medina's movements and matching clothes were found in his apartment.
WHERE:
Medina was living at the Leone Beach Park fieldhouse in Rogers Park, a city-sponsored shelter for migrants, by June 2023.
The shooting occurred at Tobey Prinz Beach in Loyola Park, Rogers Park, Chicago.
Medina lives in the 6800 block of North Sheridan Road, near the shooting location.
The vigil for Gorman was held at Loyola’s Madonna della Strada Chapel.
WHEN:
The warrant for Medina's arrest in the shoplifting case was outstanding until March 22nd, 2026, when he was taken into custody.
The shooting took place on March 19th, 2026, at approximately 1:30 a.m.
Medina was charged on March 22nd, 2026.
The GoFundMe was reported to have raised funds as of March 22nd, 2026.
WHY:
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Medina "entered the U.S. illegally and was released into the country by the Biden’s catch and release policies."
President Trump stated that Gorman’s killing highlighted the need for increased immigration enforcement, attributing it to an "open door policy" of the Biden administration.
HOW:
Investigators tracked Medina using neighborhood surveillance video, and his mother identified him after the shooting incident.
Medina allegedly hid along the lakefront and opened fire on students as they fled.
Police obtained a search warrant for Medina’s apartment, where they found a 40 caliber handgun and matching clothing.
The Department of Homeland Security filed an arrest detainer against Medina.
(UPDATED March 24, 2026 05:41 UTC)
Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national, was apprehended by Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, and has been ordered to remain in custody by Cook County Judge Luciano Panici Jr. after being arrested for retail theft at Macy's, where he took $132 worth of merchandise. A warrant for his arrest was issued when he failed to appear in court for the theft charges, and he was taken into custody on March 22, 2026, while hospitalized with tuberculosis, which had delayed his court appearance originally set for last Thursday. Investigators tracked Medina using neighborhood surveillance video, and his mother helped identify him following a shooting incident.
--
(UPDATED March 23, 2026 23:43 UTC)
Jose Medina has been charged with murder following the tragic shooting of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman at Tobey Prinz Beach in Chicago on March 19, where she was shot in the back and pronounced dead at the scene. Surveillance footage captured Medina's actions, and police discovered a handgun and matching clothing in his apartment after obtaining a search warrant. A GoFundMe campaign for Gorman's family has raised over $130,000, while President Trump has commented on the incident, linking it to immigration enforcement issues under the Biden administration.