Undocumented Immigrant Charged in Killing of Loyola Student

DHS says suspect had been apprehended and released twice before the fatal shooting

Mar. 23, 2026 at 6:55pm

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An undocumented immigrant from Venezuela has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the killing of a Loyola University Chicago student, Sheridan Gorman, who was shot and killed near the university's campus in March 2026. The Department of Homeland Security says the suspect, Jose Medina, had been apprehended and released twice before the incident.

Why it matters

The case has sparked outrage over immigration policies, with the victim's family and DHS officials criticizing 'open border policies and sanctuary politicians' for allowing the suspect to remain in the country and allegedly commit the crime.

The details

Sheridan Gorman, 18, was walking with friends near Tobey Prinz Beach Park, less than a mile from Loyola's Lake Shore campus, in the early hours of March 19 when a man approached the group and shot Gorman. Jose Medina was arrested on Friday and charged with first-degree murder. DHS says Medina was first apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol and released in May 2023, and the next month, he was arrested for shoplifting in Chicago and released.

  • Sheridan Gorman was shot and killed on March 19, 2026.
  • Jose Medina was arrested on Friday, March 22, 2026.
  • Medina is due at a detention hearing on Monday, March 25, 2026.

The players

Sheridan Gorman

An 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student who was shot and killed near the university's campus.

Jose Medina

An undocumented immigrant from Venezuela who has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Sheridan Gorman.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The federal agency that has lodged an arrest detainer against Jose Medina and is pushing for him to be kept behind bars.

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What they’re saying

“She had her entire life ahead of her — her education, her future, her family, the countless lives she would have touched. All of that was taken in a moment.”

— Sheridan Gorman's family

“We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime. When systems fail — whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act — the consequences are not abstract. They are real. And in our case, they are permanent.”

— Sheridan Gorman's family

“Sheridan Gorman was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians. We are calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago's sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods.”

— Lauren Bis, DHS Acting Assistant Secretary

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Monday, March 25, 2026, whether or not to allow Jose Medina to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This tragic case has reignited the debate over immigration policies, with the victim's family and DHS officials blaming 'open border policies and sanctuary politicians' for allowing the suspect to remain in the country and allegedly commit the crime. It highlights the ongoing tensions and complexities surrounding immigration enforcement and public safety.