The unauthorized immigrant accused of the fatal attack on a Loyola University Chicago student is preparing for his initial court appearance, which has been postponed due to his tuberculosis treatment.
Authorities allege that 25-year-old Jose Medina-Medina took the life of Sheridan Gorman while she was enjoying time with friends on a pier in the early hours of March 19. Medina-Medina, implicated in Gorman’s tragic death, reportedly entered the U.S. without permission on May 9, 2023, and was detained and then released under the current administration, as per the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Sheridan Gorman (left) was allegedly killed by Jose Medina (right) (Sheridan Gorman/Instagram and Cook County Sheriff’s Office)
Originally set for Monday, Medina-Medina’s detention hearing was rescheduled to Friday at 11:30 a.m. local time due to his medical condition. During this session, prosecutors are anticipated to provide further insights into the murder case involving Medina-Medina and Gorman. The suspect is facing multiple charges including murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and unlawful weapon possession.
A spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office relayed to Fox News Digital that Medina-Medina is currently housed in the jail’s medical division. Prior to his transfer, he was receiving care at a nearby hospital.
Sheridan Gorman is seen smiling against the backdrop of the Chicago skyline in Illinois. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)
Criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno told Fox News Digital the decision to postpone Medina-Medina’s hearing on Monday was likely made by the Cook County Sheriff’s Department and medical personnel. He will likely appear virtually as officials are concerned about the disease Medina-Medina has, she added.
A native of Yorktown Heights, New York, Gorman attended Yorktown High School and was described in an obituary as someone who “had a way of making people feel seen, valued, and believed in.”
Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national, was also arrested for shoplifting and released before the alleged murder, DHS confirmed. (DHS)
“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.”
In a statement ahead of Friday’s hearing, Gorman’s family said the shooting doesn’t change the way they view Loyola University Chicago, where Sheridan was a freshman.
“We have been asked whether this tragedy changes how we view Loyola University Chicago. The answer is absolutely not. Sheradin and our family love Loyola,” the family wrote. “We’ve also been asked whether students should feel safe there. The answer is yes. Sheridan chose Loyola because she felt at home there. She was happy, she was thriving, and she felt safe in that community. That was our experience as her parents as well.”
“What happened to Sheridan was not a reflection of the Loyola community. It was the result of a failure outside of it,” the family added.
Sheridan Gorman, a New York native, was reportedly only a few months away from completing her freshman year at Loyola University Chicago in Illinois. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)
A police source told Fox News earlier that the shooting was an apparent ambush, adding that the suspect was reportedly wearing some kind of face mask or covering.
An arrest report obtained by Fox News Digital states that, after the shooting, Medina-Medina was captured on security video in his apartment building lobby waiting for an elevator and wasn’t masked. A building engineer told police he knew the suspect who had a “very distinct limp and gait.”
Pictures of the suspect’s face were sent to a police database, and information from U.S. Customs and Border Protection identified the suspect as Medina-Medina.
Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that Medina-Medina told officials he was living at Leone Beach Park fieldhouse in Rogers Park in 2023, which was being used as a city-sponsored shelter for migrants. Medina-Medina was arrested in 2023 and charged with shoplifting after he allegedly stole just over $130 in merchandise from a Macy’s in downtown Chicago. He failed to appear for court hearings related to that case, and an arrest warrant remained active until the alleged murder.
