🕊️ The Murder of Sheridan Gorman and the Loyola Investigation

Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old first-year student at a Chicago university, was shot and killed during the early morning hours of March 19, 2026. The incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. while she was walking with a group of friends on a pier at a local beach to view the Northern Lights. A masked gunman dressed in all black emerged from behind a light beacon at the end of the pier and fired a shot that struck the victim in the head as she and her friends attempted to run away. The victim, a native of Yorktown Heights, New York, who was pursuing a business degree, was pronounced dead at the scene.Following the shooting, investigators used surveillance footage to track a suspect back to a nearby apartment building located about a block and a half from the beach. The suspect was identified as Jose Medina, a 25-year-old man who was captured on video entering the building after removing his mask. A building engineer and the suspect's mother both identified him from the footage, and police noted he was recognizable due to a distinctive limp. Law enforcement recovered a .40 caliber handgun from his residence, which ballistics testing matched to a shell casing found at the crime scene.The suspect is reportedly a Venezuelan migrant who has been in the United States since 2023 and had an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a previous retail theft charge. He has been charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. On March 23, 2026, the suspect missed his initial court appearance because he was hospitalized and being treated for tuberculosis. Federal immigration officials have since requested an immigration detainer for him.The university community held a prayer vigil at a campus chapel to mourn the loss, and additional wellness resources were provided to students. Her family issued a statement describing her as a compassionate and joyous person while demanding justice, emphasizing that she was doing something normal and safe at the time of the attack. University officials maintained there is no ongoing threat to the campus and noted that campus safety officers continue to patrol the area. A memorial service and community vigil are scheduled to take place in the victim's hometown on March 28.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-world-between-us--6886561/support.