Parents React to Trial of Suspect in Daughter’s Death
Thomas and Jessica Gorman, parents of 18-year-old Sheridan who was tragically killed, assert that the accused, an undocumented immigrant, is “fully competent” to stand trial. They noted that he didn’t even use a Spanish interpreter during his court appearance.
The suspect, Jose Medina-Medina, is a 25-year-old from Venezuela. He was apprehended by Chicago police after being charged with Sheridan’s murder, which took place during an unprovoked attack at the Toby Prinz Beach pier on March 19.
According to prosecutors, Sheridan was with friends when she spotted Medina-Medina, masked and armed. As the group attempted to flee, he opened fire, resulting in Sheridan’s death; she was a freshman at Loyola University.
Defense lawyers for Medina-Medina claim he is “severely brain-damaged and disabled,” raising questions about his ability to stand trial.
The Gormans communicated their disbelief to Fox News’ Martha McCollum. Thomas expressed his doubts about the defense’s claims, stating that anyone who can plan such an act is clearly aware of their actions.
At a recent court hearing, Jessica observed that Medina-Medina did not utilize a state-appointed interpreter, which she interpreted as a sign that he understood the situation. She pointed out an inconsistency in his defense, emphasizing that young children don’t procure illegal weapons or plan attacks.
“Little kids don’t buy illegal guns, little kids don’t stand on the edge of a pier waiting to kill someone. He spoke to the judge without the interpreter.”
Sheridan’s sister, Madeline, shared her deep bond with her sister and their plans to spend the summer together in Nashville. Losing her sister so soon was unimaginable, and she reflected on the love and support they shared throughout their lives.
Madeline stated, “We were meant to spend our lives together. I think people really need to understand, this is real. It can happen to anyone.”
New information has emerged regarding Medina-Medina’s immigration status. Last month, documents revealed that officials from the Department of Homeland Security released him into the U.S. in May 2023, despite lacking a valid asylum claim.
Under the previous leadership of Alejandro Mayorkas, he was allowed into the country without proper identification or the belief that he would face deportation. Just a month later, he was arrested for shoplifting in Chicago, but due to local policies, he was not handed over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a move that the Gorman family believes could have prevented their daughter’s death.
