Arrest of Undocumented Immigrant Involving Weapon in Jail

An undocumented Venezuelan immigrant, accused of killing Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman, was apprehended with a weapon concealed in his pants while in a Chicago jail awaiting trial.

Jose Medina-Medina, 26, was taken into custody on Thursday after a 6-inch shank was found during a search by Cook County Jail officials. This came to light through a report made to staff shortly after 8 a.m.

Authorities described the makeshift weapon as a sharp metal piece with a handle fashioned from medical tape. Following this incident, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Medina with possession of contraband in a penal institution.

It’s unclear what his intentions were with the shank before it was seized.

Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola, was tragically shot in an unprovoked attack while searching for the Northern Lights with friends near campus in the early hours of March 19. Medina, wearing a mask, allegedly leaped at their group and fired, striking Gorman in the back.

Following her death, Medina faced serious accusations including first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, among others. He was booked in Cook County Jail on March 23 and has remained without bail since.

Despite the evidence, Medina maintains his innocence. If convicted, he could face a life sentence, as Illinois abolished the death penalty back in 2011.

His attorney has claimed that Medina suffers from cognitive impairments, resulting from a shooting during a robbery in Colombia that caused significant brain damage.

Gorman’s parents have expressed their grief and frustration, attributing their daughter’s death to policies that allowed Medina to enter the U.S. illegally in 2019. They’ve been vocal about the need for change, emphasizing that such incidents must be addressed for the safety of others.