Venezuelan Immigrant Charged in Murder of Loyola Student

A Venezuelan immigrant, Jose Medina-Medina, who has been charged in connection with the murder of Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman, appeared in court on Wednesday. During the session, a judge mandated that he provide a DNA sample and accepted requests for medical care as he prepares for trial.

The 25-year-old Medina is accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Gorman at Rogers Park pier on March 19. Following his earlier charge for illegal possession of a firearm, he made a limping entrance into the courtroom—this comes with a potential sentence of ten years in prison.

Besides the federal firearm charges, Medina faces additional charges at the state level, which include murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and illegal possession of a weapon.

The state requested that the defendant submit a DNA sample, with the judge siding with the request despite objections from the public defender. The public defender also mentioned Medina’s medical needs, noting that he has bullet fragments lodged in his nasal cavity and sought medical records from various hospitals. However, specific details about these facilities weren’t revealed.

It’s worth mentioning that Medina-Medina had been arrested at the southern border in 2023 and flagged as a flight risk. He did not have a valid asylum claim until his release under the Biden administration, which raises some questions about his circumstances. Records indicate he lacks a stable address or identification and couldn’t provide verifiable contact details.

His next arraignment is set for April 29, and the unfolding of this case continues to garner attention.