A poignant photo captured a cheerful New York teenager, Sheridan Gorman, as she posed with new friends during her freshman year at Loyola University—just days before a masked gunman unleashed a devastating attack near the campus.
What began as a leisurely stroll with friends at Toby Prinz Beach turned horrifying when gunfire erupted, tragically resulting in Gorman being fatally shot around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, according to Chicago police.
The assailant managed to flee, shrouded in darkness, and remained unidentified as of Thursday afternoon, with no description available from authorities.
Fortunately, police reported no other injuries in this terrifying incident.
Only three days prior, Gorman was joyfully celebrated St. Patrick’s Day in Chicago, arms linked with youthful friends, as her Instagram showcased.
A Yorktown Heights native, Gorman had seemingly adapted well to life at Loyola, filling her social media with glimpses of dorm life, Halloween events, and Cubs games.
In a post from December 12, she shared a photo encapsulating her freshman experience, proudly adorned in a hand-painted denim jacket featuring Loyola’s colors, captioned “Goodbye first semester!”
In a particularly sorrowful post dated March 8, she expressed anticipation for “warmer days ahead.”
Her Instagram also reflected her excitement about living in Chicago—she even adorned her high school graduation cap with “Loyola.”
Described as someone who embraced her faith, Gorman, influenced by the Bible verse “1 Corinthians 16:14” encouraging love in all actions, was actively involved in Loyola’s Christian group, Cru, and had recently traveled to Indianapolis with fellow members.
A vigil in her memory is set for Thursday night at Loyola’s Madonna della Strada Chapel. The university’s president referred to her death as a “tragic loss,” extending condolences to Gorman’s family and friends, while reassuring the campus community that there was no ongoing threat.
Yorktown Central School District Superintendent Ronald Hutter expressed his sorrow over her death, labeling it a senseless tragedy, and stated that the district shares in the collective heartbreak.
