The parents of a New York teenager who was fatally shot near a Chicago university last month are pointing fingers at ineffective immigration policies that allowed the murder suspect to remain in the country.
“I really don’t care where you stand politically. This is about a change that has to happen,” said Jessica Gorman, the mother of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, during an interview on CBS Morning.
Gorman was shot on March 19 while spending time with friends on a pier in Chicago, hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights.
Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old from Venezuela, has been charged with first-degree murder, as well as attempted murder and firearm offenses.
In their first TV interview after the tragedy, Gorman’s grieving parents criticized the Biden administration and the sanctuary policies in place in Chicago and Illinois that facilitated Medina-Medina’s presence.
The suspect had been detained for immigration violations in 2023 but was released under a policy that allowed many others to remain in the U.S., ultimately leading to his life in Chicago before the incident.
“Policies definitely played a role in what happened to us, and while we can’t bring back Sheridan, sitting idle isn’t an option,” said Thomas Gorman in a video shared hours before their interview went on air.
Responding to the situation, former President Trump attacked both Biden and Illinois’s Governor JB Pritzker for their roles in allowing Medina-Medina to be released after previous arrests.
“The illegal alien who murdered Sheridan came into our country from Venezuela and was let go by Sleepy Joe Biden… It’s just pathetic,” Trump said.
It was reported that Medina-Medina was released due to a lack of space in detention facilities.
Trying to bridge divides after such a personal loss, Thomas Gorman expressed hope that everyone could agree on making children safe.
Gorman was visiting Chicago from Yorktown Heights, New York, and was attacked while her friends were taking pictures on the pier.
The family defended her late-night outing, referring to it as a normal college experience. “She was right where she should have been: near campus and enjoying life with friends,” they said.
A community vigil was held for Sheridan on March 28, drawing a large crowd.
Jessica Gorman is committed to pursuing justice for her daughter, stating that their voices will be heard in this fight.
After being released in the U.S., Medina-Medina had one prior arrest in Chicago for theft, from which he was released on bond and subsequently missed a court date.
The deputy public defender representing Medina-Medina described Sheridan’s death as a tragedy but also claimed that there were complexities regarding the suspect’s past, mentioning he suffered a childhood head injury.
Medina-Medina is currently in custody at Cook County Jail without bail.
