Accused shooter in Loyola freshman Sheridan Gorman's death faces new federal gun charge

The man charged with murder in the fatal Chicago shooting of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman now faces an additional federal gun charge.

Jose Medina is now charged with illegal possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney for Northern Illinois' office.

Medina is already facing felony charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon in the incident.

Chicago police said Gorman and three of her friends were walking along the lakefront in Rogers Park around 1:30 a.m. on March 19 when Medina approached her and started shooting. Gorman was struck once, and died from her injuries at the scene. Her three friends were able to run and hide and were not injured.

Investigators then tracked Medina to a nearby apartment building where he lives with his mother and found a gun that matched the casings found at the crime scene.

Medina is an unauthorized migrant from Venezuela who first entered the U.S. in 2023. His attorney said he is severely disabled after he was shot in the head in 2018 in Colombia, where he had moved with his mother, during a robbery. His attorney also said while Medina was in detention in Texas following his entry to the U.S., he requested to be deported back to Colombia, but instead was bussed by Gov. Greg Abbott to Chicago.

When he arrived in Chicago he was put in a migrant shelter and contracted tuberculosis, his attorney said. Medina is in Cook County custody but has been hospitalized for tuberculosis treatment.

He was ordered detained at his last court appearance and is due back in court on April 15.