Mother of New York Teen Murdered in Chicago Demands Justice

The grieving mother of an 18-year-old girl, murdered near a Chicago university, is determined to seek justice for her daughter. However, she’s choosing not to acknowledge the immigrant gunman accused of the crime, who allegedly shot her in front of her friends.

“We’re going to bring justice to Sheridan,” Jessica Gorman, mother of the victim, said outside their home in Yorktown Heights. “We have a voice, and it will be heard. We are devastated.”

As they mourn and prepare for Sheridan’s burial, Jessica and her family have chosen to focus on honoring her life rather than discussing the suspect.

“We’re really focusing on our daughter’s burial this week. We’re really focusing on the beauty of her life,” she shared. “We’re not talking to this guy.”

Described by her family as a “very loving person” and “everyone’s cheerleader,” Sheridan’s death came as a shock. “People say it’s heartbreaking, and it is, but I wouldn’t wish this on anyone because this is so real,” Jessica expressed tearfully.

Sheridan was a devout Christian and an accomplished high school athlete who was excited to study business at Loyola University. She was out with friends hoping to see the Northern Lights when tragedy struck around 1:30 a.m. Thursday. A masked man emerged and, as they attempted to flee, fired a shot that fatally struck her.

Medina-Medina, the 25-year-old suspect, was arrested soon after the attack, which was caught on surveillance video. He had entered the U.S. illegally in May 2023 and previously faced shoplifting charges but was released under Chicago’s sanctuary policy.

“Sheridan Gorman waited her entire life for this cold-blooded killer to decide to take her life,” said DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss following the arrest.