An illegal immigrant suspect in the murder of a Loyola University student in Chicago will appear in court
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A suspected illegal immigrant accused of killing a Loyola University student in Chicago will make his first court appearance in more than a week after being arrested, which was delayed as he received treatment for tuberculosis.
Jose Medina-Medina, 25, is suspected of killing Sheridan Gorman while he was with friends at a fishing spot on March 19 just after 1 a.m., according to officials. Medina-Medina, the suspect in Gorman’s murder, 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 (DHS).
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Sheridan Gorman (L) accused of killing Jose Medina (R) (Sheridan Gorman/Instagram and Cook County Sheriff’s Office)
Medina-Medina’s detention hearing was scheduled for Monday, but was postponed as court officials said he was being treated for tuberculosis. The case was adjourned to Friday at 11:30 a.m. local time, when prosecutors are expected to provide more details about the murders of Medina-Medina and Gorman. He is charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, aggravated battery and illegal possession of a firearm.
A spokesperson for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office told Fox News Digital on Friday that Medina-Medina was in the medical unit at his jail. He was in a local hospital earlier in the week before being transferred to jail.
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Sheridan Gorman smiles next to the skyline of Chicago, Illinois. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)
Criminal defense attorney Donna Rotunno told Fox News Digital that the decision to postpone Medina-Medina’s hearing on Monday may have been made by the Cook County Sheriff’s Department and the medical examiner. He will probably show up as officials are concerned about Medina-Medina’s illness, he 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.”
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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)
“People often say that someone ‘lighted up a room’ or had ‘beauty inside and out,’ but in the case of Sheridan, those phrases are much less. He exuded something even greater—a rare and mysterious warmth, a spirit that was strong, compassionate, and full of life. He was funny, kind, and deeply loving, with a heart that made his place everywhere,” the 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.”
In a statement before Friday’s hearing, Gorman’s family said the shooting does not change how they view Loyola University Chicago, where Sheridan was a freshman.
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“We have been asked if this tragedy changes the way we look at Loyola University Chicago. The answer is absolutely no. Sheradin and our family love Loyola,” the family wrote. “We were also asked if students should feel safe there. The answer is yes. Seridan chose Loyola because he felt at home. He was happy, prosperous, and felt safe in that community. That’s what happened to us as his parents.”
“What happened to Sheridan was not from the Loyola community. It was a result of failure outside of it,” the family added.
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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)
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.
An arrest report obtained by Fox News Digital states that, after the incident, Medina-Medina was captured on security video in her lobby waiting for an elevator and her face was not covered. The civil engineer told police he knew the suspect “who was limping and walking very differently.”
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Images of the suspect’s face were posted on the police website, and US Customs and Border Protection information identified the suspect as Medina-Medina.
Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital show that Medina-Medina told officials she was living in the Leone Beach Park area of Rogers Park in 2023, which was used as a city-sponsored immigration shelter. Medina-Medina was arrested in 2023 and charged with shoplifting after allegedly stealing just over $130 worth of merchandise from a Macy’s in downtown Chicago. He failed to appear in court on that charge, and the warrant remained active for the murder charge.
Fox News’ Philip Bodinet and Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.
