Blagojevich says the killing of Chicago teenagers in Rogers Park was the start of gangs
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Former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich says the illegal immigrant accused of shooting Sheridan Gorman in Chicago did so as part of a “gang.”
Jose Medina-Medina, 25, allegedly shot and killed Gorman, 18, on March 19 around 01:06 a.m. while hanging out with his friends in the Rogers Park area. Medina-Medina entered the country illegally on May 9, 2023, was arrested and released to the US under the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
In a statement to X, Blagojevich said he thought Gorman’s killer was incarcerated as part of a “cover-up,” saying he believed the killing was part of a gang.
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Former Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich speaks outside in Chicago. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“Sheridan Gorman’s killer is in solitary confinement. I suspect that Pritzker & the Dems are hiding him to COVER UP the fact that this illegal immigrant killed an innocent little girl as part of a GANG INITIATION. I know gangbangers and how they work. I’ve lived with them for 8 years. And I know Pritzker & the Dems,” said Blagojevich. “Beat you, I’m sure.”
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Gorman was described as someone who was “everybody’s cheerleader,” as those who knew him said he had a way of making others “feel seen, respected and believed in.”
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Sheridan Gorman, a native of New York, was reportedly a few months away from completing his freshman year at Loyola University Chicago in Illinois. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)
“People often say someone ‘lighted up a room’ or had “beauty inside and out,” but in Sheridan’s case, those phrases fall far short. He exuded something even greater—a rare and mysterious warmth, a spirit that was vibrant, sensitive, and full of life,” according to Gorman’s obituary. “He loved so much—his family, his friends, his community, and his faith. He brought people together, lifted them up, and made ordinary times feel extraordinary just by being in them.”
Medina-Medina was supposed to appear in court on Monday but the hearing was postponed because he was hospitalized due to tuberculosis. A hearing is scheduled for Friday morning.
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Medina-Medina in 2023 was charged with shoplifting after prosecutors say she stole just over $130 worth of merchandise from a Macy’s in downtown Chicago.
He failed to appear in court for theft, which led to his failure to appear in court. That letter was still in progress when he shot and killed Gorman, according to court records.
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Jose Medina-Medina, who is originally from Venezuela, was arrested for shoplifting and released before the alleged murder, DHS confirmed. (DHS)
A police source previously told Fox News that the shooting was an ambush, adding that the suspect was reportedly wearing a mask or cover-up.
The arrest report obtained by Fox News Digital states that after the incident, Medina was seen on video in the lobby of his apartment waiting for the elevator while not covering his face. A civil engineer told police he knew the suspect “who was limping and walking very differently.”
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Sheridan Gorman smiles next to the skyline of Chicago, Illinois. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)
Photos of the suspect were posted on the police website, and US Customs and Border Protection identified the suspect as Medina. He was arrested at his Rogers Park apartment, according to an arrest report.
Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that Medina told officials he was living in the Leone Beach Park area of Rogers Park in 2023, which was used as a city-sponsored immigrant shelter.
The city-funded shelter is slated to close in 2024, according to South Side Weekly.
