The family of Sheridan Gorman is expressing their frustration with officials in Chicago and Illinois. They assert that her murder wasn’t just a “senseless tragedy,” emphasizing the need for accountability regarding systemic failures in public safety.
Gorman, an 18-year-old college student, was shot and killed at approximately 1:06 a.m. on March 19 while socializing with friends near a pier in Rogers Park. Authorities have identified 25-year-old Jose Medina-Medina, an undocumented immigrant from Venezuela, as the prime suspect.
Medina-Medina had been apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol on May 9, 2023, but was released into the U.S. under the current administration.
The family issued a statement on Wednesday, condemning remarks made by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. They stated that Gorman’s death “demands accountability.”
“What happened to Sheridan cannot be simplified to a ‘senseless tragedy’ or described in typical public safety terms. She was our daughter, just 18 years old. She was doing something completely normal—walking with friends near campus. She should still be with us,” the Gorman family reflected, referencing Johnson’s comments.
“It’s not enough to label this as ‘senseless.’ There needs to be a thorough and honest accounting of what went wrong,” they added. “We refuse to let Sheridan’s life be reduced to mere discussion or generalizations. We expect our leaders to face the difficult truths and take steps to ensure such an event never recurs.”
The family also reacted to Governor Pritzker’s statements, saying, “Simply calling this a tragedy falls short.”
“Her death isn’t just a generic ‘tragedy,’ nor can it be comfortably explained by vague references to broader issues. Sheridan was a daughter, a sister, a young woman whose life was lost in an incomprehensible way,” they stated.
“We’re not interested in political debates or shifting blame. As the governor has acknowledged, if there are failures, we must find them, investigate, and address them directly. Identifying the location of those failures matters more than our willingness to confront them honestly.”
“Our daughter is not a topic for policy debates. Her life was taken, and accountability is essential,” they concluded.
Pritzker, during a recent event, attributed some responsibility to the Trump administration, saying, “This is a tragic situation, and we recognize the Gorman family’s immense suffering. Real failures exist, and they extend beyond Illinois; it’s a national issue, tied to the inability to pursue comprehensive immigration reform.”
Chicago Mayor Johnson also commented on Gorman’s death, asserting that she fell victim to “unreasonable violence,” while also criticizing Trump.
“There are no words that can truly console the family that lost its child. My heartfelt condolences go out to them,” Johnson said. “What’s the bigger threat to public safety? The illegal trafficking of firearms from border states that backed Trump. This president seems unwilling to take responsibility, continually blaming others instead of reflecting on his own shortcomings.”
“It’s time for the president to act in Congress and prioritize comprehensive immigration reform,” Johnson added.
In Gorman’s hometown of Yorktown Heights, New York, homes were illuminated in green to honor her memory on Tuesday night.
According to an arrest report, after the incident, Medina-Medina was seen on surveillance footage waiting for an elevator in his apartment complex. A construction engineer noted he recognized Medina-Medina, describing the suspect’s distinctive limp.
Reportedly, Medina-Medina left the shooting scene wearing a mask and black attire and was seen walking slowly, exhibiting a limp. He was captured on video walking from the shooting site toward Pratt Boulevard and then entering the back of an apartment building within minutes.
The police identified him through a database as Medina-Medina, who was later arrested at his apartment. In 2023, Medina-Medina indicated to authorities that he was living in a city-sponsored migrant shelter in Rogers Park, which is set to close in 2024.
