The arrest report reveals that a crucial error led to the identification of a Venezuelan illegal immigrant accused of murdering a college student in Chicago.
Jose Medina, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, was apprehended on Friday, suspected of killing 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman near Tobey Prinz Beach the previous day. According to police sources cited by Fox News, the shooting appeared to be a planned attack, with the suspect reportedly disguising himself with a face mask or covering.
Fox News Digital obtained an arrest report indicating that Medina was caught on video in his apartment building’s lobby unmasked while waiting for the elevator after the shooting. A building engineer recognized him due to his “very distinct limp and gait” and notified the authorities.
Authorities used images of the suspect in a police database, leading U.S. Customs and Border Protection to identify him as Medina. He was subsequently detained at his residence in Rogers Park, as stated in the arrest report.
Sheridan Gorman is seen smiling with the Chicago skyline in the background. (Photo via Sheridan G. Gorman on Instagram)
In the early hours of Thursday at 1:06 a.m., police reported that a male dressed in black, wearing a mask, and exhibiting a “distinct limp and slow gait” was observed leaving the shooting scene. By 1:12 a.m., he was seen heading towards Pratt Boulevard and a few minutes later, walking northbound through the east alley of Sheridan Road before entering the rear of his apartment building.
Gorman, who attended Yorktown High School in Yorktown Heights, New York, was described in an obituary as someone who “had a way of making people feel seen, valued, and believed in.” While in high school, Gorman participated in field hockey, lacrosse, and bowling “among many other activities.”
“People often say someone ‘lit up a room’ or had ‘inner and outer beauty,’ but in Sheridan’s case, those phrases fall way too short. She radiated something even greater—a rare and unmistakable warmth, a spirit that was vibrant, compassionate, and full of life. She was funny, kind, and deeply loving, with a heart that made space for everyone,” her obituary states. “She loved fiercely—her family, her friends, her community, and her faith. She brought people together, lifted them up, and made the ordinary moments feel extraordinary simply by being in them.”
Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national, was also arrested for shoplifting and released before the alleged murder, DHS confirmed. (DHS)
“Though her life was far too short, Sheridan’s impact is immeasurable. She will forever be remembered as a bright, beautiful soul whose love continues to shine in all who knew her,” stated the obituary.
Medina, an illegal immigrant from Venezuela, was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, and was released into the U.S. under the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Flowers left in memory of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman on the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, Chicago, IL., Monday, March 23, 2026. Gorman was fatally shot on the pier last Thursday, allegedly by an illegal immigrant. (Kamil Krzacynski for Fox News Digital)
Following an arrest for shoplifting in Chicago, Medina was released on June 19, 2023, DHS said.
He was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, three felony counts of aggravated assault with discharge of firearm and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Chicago Police Department.
A general view of Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, Chicago, IL., Monday, March 23, 2026. Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot on the pier last Thursday. (Kamil Krzacynski for Fox News Digital)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer against Medina following the alleged murder.
“We are calling on Governor Pritzker and Chicago’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods,” DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said.
Sheridan Gorman was killed after being shot in the head while taking a walk with friends at Tobey Prinz Beach, located less than a mile from Loyola’s campus, around 1 a.m. on Thursday, according to reports. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)
In a new statement to Fox News, Gorman’s family said their daughter’s death was a result of systemic failure within the immigration system.
“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,” the family said. “This case must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of both state and federal law. There can be no gaps, no shortcuts, and no second chances that put others at risk. Accountability must be complete.”
A general view of Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park, Chicago, IL., Monday, March 23, 2026. Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot on the pier last Thursday. (Kamil Krzacynski for Fox News Digital)
Alderwoman Maria Hadden told Fox 32 Chicago that Gorman’s death seemed to be a case of “wrong place at the wrong time.”
“The kids were out doing normal things people do in the neighborhood,” she said. “They may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time, running into a person who had a gun.”
