Details on the Murder Charge of Loyola Student by Undocumented Immigrant

The Venezuelan immigrant charged with murdering Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman has significant brain injury, according to his attorney. Jose Medina-Medina, 25, was ordered to remain in custody without bail by Chicago Judge Danthony Tedford. His defense emphasized that Medina-Medina has cognitive issues stemming from a gunshot wound to his head, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Defense attorney Julie Koehler stated that Medina-Medina sustained the injury during a robbery in Colombia, where he lived with his mother until 2016, when they fled after a traumatic incident involving a government agent.

Koehler claimed that the injury left Medina-Medina with a developmental level akin to that of a child, saying, “Today he has the brain development of a child.” This statement may hint at a possible insanity defense strategy from the legal team.

Following the bail hearing, Koehler requested that Medina-Medina receive treatment for epilepsy and tuberculosis, as he tested positive for a contagious bacterial lung infection. Due to his condition, he attended the hearing virtually from his hospital room, wearing a surgical mask and relying on a Spanish interpreter.

Although he is currently receiving treatment at a Cook County Jail medical facility, his attorney is concerned about potential immigration actions and wants to ensure he remains in custody to avoid deportation.

During the hearing, Gorman’s family appeared via video, highlighting the emotional weight of the case.

Prosecutors allege that Medina-Medina shot Gorman on March 19 after stalking her group by Toby Prinz Beach while disguised in a ski mask. Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman from Westchester, New York, was there with friends to view the Northern Lights.

It is claimed that while taking pictures, Gorman noticed someone lurking in the shadows and alerted her friends. The group scattered, and Medina-Medina allegedly fired, hitting Gorman in the back before fleeing the scene. Her friends later found her unconscious, prompting a police investigation that identified Medina-Medina from surveillance footage.

He had entered the U.S. through Border Patrol in 2023 and had a previous shoplifting arrest but was released under Chicago’s sanctuary laws.

Medina-Medina faces charges of first-degree murder and related offenses, with a court appearance scheduled for April 15.

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke expressed her condolences in a statement, describing the act as “heartbreaking and senseless,” emphasizing the impact on Gorman’s friends and family. She affirmed a commitment to pursuing justice in the case.