A Chicago lawmaker issued an apology on Tuesday after facing criticism for her comments regarding the murder of an 18-year-old college student. Sheridan Gorman, who was from Westchester County, New York, was tragically shot late on a Thursday night while walking along the lakefront with a friend.
Councilwoman Maria Hadden drew public ire when she remarked in an interview with Fox 32 Chicago that perhaps Gorman had been in the “wrong place at the wrong time,” suggesting that the shooting might have taken the assailant by surprise. Her statements received backlash on social media, and Gorman’s family also expressed their discontent.
Hadden, who is aligned with Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, later clarified that her interview gained attention on conservative platforms. She explained that her comments arose from a comparison to another tragic incident from 2018. “I may have said things that made some people uncomfortable,” she stated, stressing that her intent was not to assign blame to Gorman for being out at the park or imply it was her fault she was shot.
In her follow-up statement, Hadden mentioned that her goal was to convey the limited information available to help address community concerns about the shooting. She apologized for any additional distress her words may have caused.
Gorman’s family addressed Hadden’s comments directly, stating that the loss of their daughter cannot be simplified to merely being in the wrong place. “This is a profound loss of a daughter, a sister—a future full of milestones that will now never happen. Our lives are forever altered,” they expressed.
They emphasized the need for society to remain sensitive to such tragedies and not become desensitized to violence. “When we start to view these events as inevitable, we put ourselves at risk. Indifference is dangerous,” they added.
In connection with Gorman’s death, Jose Medina-Medina has been arrested and charged. The Department of Homeland Security indicated that he is an undocumented immigrant who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration and had been previously arrested for shoplifting.
