The family of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago freshman who was fatally shot near the school’s lakefront campus on March 19, has criticized remarks from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and a statement from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s office as too general, urging officials to give a clearer accounting of what they say went wrong.
Sheridan Gorman, 18, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was shot and killed around 1 a.m. on March 19 while walking near campus with friends, according to statements and reporting cited by The Daily Wire.
A suspect, Jose Medina-Medina, 25, was charged with first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, according to The Daily Wire, which cited the Chicago Tribune for the charging details.
The Daily Wire reported that Medina-Medina is a Venezuelan national and that federal immigration authorities lodged an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainer with local authorities. The Daily Wire also reported that the suspect’s initial court appearance was delayed while he was hospitalized with tuberculosis and that he was due back in court on a Friday.
In a public response issued days after the killing, Johnson described the shooting as “senseless violence” and a “tragedy,” according to the statement quoted by The Daily Wire. In the same remarks, Johnson said he could not stop thinking about the Gorman family as he prepared to send his oldest son to college, and added: “We will not tolerate those who break the law and put the lives of others in danger.”
Pritzker’s office, in a statement provided to The Daily Wire, said: “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, and Loyola University community grieving the senseless murder of Sheridan Gorman. Violent crime has no place in our streets, and we expect the alleged perpetrator to be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.” The spokesperson also criticized the Trump administration, saying it should focus on “reinstating federal funds to prevent violence” rather than “politicizing” the case.
Gorman’s family said those responses did not go far enough. Citing Fox News, The Daily Wire reported the family rejected the characterization of the killing as “senseless,” saying it should not be reduced to a general tragedy and calling for “a clear and honest accounting of what went wrong.” In a separate passage also attributed to the family via Fox News, they said: “Our daughter is not a policy debate. She is a life that was taken, and that demands accountability.”
