Community Mourns Teen Murdered in Chicago
YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, N.Y. – A New York teenager, tragically murdered near the University of Chicago, was celebrated during a heartfelt public memorial in her hometown. Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University, was remembered as a cherished student-athlete whose positivity and faith touched the lives of those around her. Her life was cut short when she was shot by an undocumented immigrant near the city’s lakefront on March 19.
On a cold Saturday, the Jack DeVito Memorial Field in Yorktown overflowed with mourners bringing photos, pins, and custom jerseys in honor of Gorman, who they described as a source of joy. “Sheridan, she was our joy, our collective joy—now that joy is gone,” lamented her father, Thomas, as tears streamed down his face in front of a sea of community members dressed in green and white.
He added, “But looking at all of you, I realize that joy doesn’t vanish; it lives on in this community and beyond. We are grieving, yes, but we are also not alone. With your support, we will find a way through this.”
At the vigil, a grieving father wore Sheridan’s lacrosse jersey while standing beside his family, appreciating the teen’s spirit as a confident young woman and devoted Christian, who excelled in sports and uplifted those around her.
“Sheridan was the best of us,” her inconsolable mother, Jessica, expressed to the crowd. “She not only supported others; she believed in them deeply.” Reflecting on Sheridan’s legacy, she emphasized the importance of enthusiasm and teamwork, saying, “What we all want to remember—this doesn’t just win games; it changes lives.” The heartfelt gathering underscored this sentiment.
Amid her family’s grief, her mother spoke of her anger and heartbreak, asserting, “We will fight for justice because, at the core, we all want the same for our children: safety and love. That’s the way we honor her.”
Sheridan and her friends were on a pier in Chicago around 1 a.m. to witness the Northern Lights when, tragically, a masked gunman emerged and fired a shot, fatally striking her in the head as she tried to escape, according to police reports.
Authorities arrested Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national who entered the U.S. earlier this year and had been released following a prior arrest due to sanctuary policies. He faces charges including first-degree murder.
Remembering her sibling, Maddie, who is just 11 months younger, conveyed her struggle with the loss and reflected on the milestones they would no longer share. “She entered every space like she belonged there. Not only did she have confidence, but she also gave it to others,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion.
A private funeral service took place the same day at First Presbyterian Church in Yorktown, providing another moment for the community to come together in mourning.
Mourners, some wearing remembrance buttons, expressed disbelief over the tragedy. One attendee, visibly shaken, shared, “I still can’t wrap my head around it. As a parent, it’s just unthinkable. I hope she gets the justice she deserves.”
As the community continues to grieve, they hold onto the spirited memory of Sheridan Gorman, a radiant light taken too soon.
