Illegal Immigrant Charged In Loyola Student Killing As DHS Targets Sanctuary Policies
A Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a college student near Loyola University Chicago, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Authorities identified the suspect as Jose Medina-Medina, 25, who DHS says crossed the border illegally in May 2023 and was later released into the country.
The victim, 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, was a freshman at Loyola. She was shot just after 1 a.m. Thursday while walking with friends, according to officials. Her family said she had been heading out to see the Northern Lights when the attack occurred.
Investigators say Medina allegedly approached Gorman wearing dark clothing and a mask before firing a single shot as she attempted to flee.
Police were able to identify the suspect in part due to a “distinct limp,” along with surveillance footage that reportedly captured him without a mask inside a nearby building after the shooting.
According to reports, Medina had a prior run-in with law enforcement after allegedly shoplifting from a Macy’s store in 2023. He failed to appear in court for that case, resulting in an outstanding warrant.
The Department of Homeland Security has since placed an ICE detainer on Medina and is urging local officials to ensure he is not released. However, due to Illinois sanctuary policies, there is uncertainty over whether local authorities will comply.
In a statement, DHS officials argued that the case highlights concerns about immigration enforcement and local cooperation with federal agencies, calling on state and city leaders to take action.
Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker has not publicly committed to honoring the detainer, and Chicago’s sanctuary policies have drawn renewed scrutiny following the arrest.
Gorman’s family described her as someone who “left people better than she found them” and said her death has devastated their lives.
“This is not an abstraction,” the family said in a statement. “This is the loss of a daughter, a sister, and a future filled with milestones that will now never come.”
As the case moves toward arraignment, the focus is now shifting to both the criminal proceedings and the broader political battle over immigration enforcement and sanctuary laws.