During a press conference on Tuesday, Chicago’s mayor reinforced his recent comments that faced backlash after the murder of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, a student at Loyola University Chicago.
At a rally called “No King” in Chicago on Saturday, Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his commitment to end violence against immigrants. These remarks came on the same day as Gorman’s funeral, and they drew significant criticism, especially since the suspect in her murder, 25-year-old Jose Medina-Medina, is an undocumented immigrant from Colombia.
“We need to proactively end the violence against immigrants,” Johnson stated at the rally. “It’s crucial that we engage in a democratic process. We’re witnessing electoral changes across the nation, and we’ve taken steps to influence the role of ICE in the city.”
When a reporter asked if he would apologize to Gorman’s parents, Johnson sidestepped the question.
“We again recognize the tragedy of this loss,” Johnson said. “No parent should have to bury their child, and I can say that as a parent myself. Clearly, we must do better to protect our communities. The call for ‘No King’ reflects my commitment to safeguard workers and immigrant populations.”
The mayor continued, “Compromising people’s constitutional rights doesn’t contribute to safety.”
Last week, he was posed the same question and navigated it indirectly, stating, “I believe we all mourn the loss of Sheridan and others who have fallen victim to senseless violence.” He added that the SAFE-T method and the Welcoming City Ordinance were established decades ago, under different political leadership.
Prosecutors allege that Medina-Medina concealed himself before approaching Gorman and others, firing indiscriminately during the early morning of March 19.
Medina is facing charges, including murder and attempted murder, linked to this shocking incident. Following his illegal entry into the U.S. under the Biden administration, he was reportedly let go. In 2023, he was charged with shoplifting but failed to appear for court proceedings, leaving an arrest warrant in relation to that case until the current murder charges surfaced.
Gorman’s family criticized Johnson’s initial response to the incident, insisting, “What happened to Sheridan cannot simply be labeled a senseless tragedy. She was our daughter, just 18 years old, walking with friends near campus. She should still be here.”
They expressed the need for a clear and honest assessment of the factors leading to her death, asserting they will not allow Sheridan’s life or the circumstances surrounding her death to be reduced to generalizations. They called for leaders to confront uncomfortable truths to prevent future tragedies.
According to reports, the suspect’s attorney claimed Medina-Medina requested to return to Colombia after illegally crossing the border but was sent by bus to Chicago instead. There were reportedly no records of such bus transport involving him, as per state officials.
The mayor’s office has not provided additional comments on the matter.
