Chicago police arrested Jose Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national living illegally in the U.S., in connection with the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman near Tobey Prinz Beach on June 15. Medina was apprehended at his Rogers Park apartment after officers identified him through surveillance footage and distinctive physical traits.
Identification and Arrest of Suspect
The investigation revealed that Medina, seen wearing a black mask and walking with a distinct limp at the time of the early Thursday morning shooting, was captured unmasked on video inside his apartment building lobby shortly afterward. A building engineer recognized the limp and distinctive gait, aiding police in confirming Medina’s identity. Authorities entered his details into a law enforcement database, which matched records from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Medina was arrested on Friday and charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, multiple counts of aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a weapon, according to the Chicago Police Department.
Immigration and Legal Background
Medina was previously detained by U.S. Border Patrol in May 2023 and released into the U.S. under the Biden administration. He was also arrested on a shoplifting charge in Chicago and subsequently released in June 2023. Following the homicide charge, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement lodged an arrest detainer against him. DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis called on Illinois officials to keep Medina in custody to prevent further harm.
Family and Community Responses
Sheridan Gorman, a recent Yorktown High School graduate, was commemorated for her community spirit and compassionate nature in her obituary. Her family expressed deep disappointment with the immigration system and the policies that allowed Medina to remain free prior to the shooting, urging for thorough prosecution and full accountability under state and federal law. Chicago Alderwoman Maria Hadden described Gorman’s death as a tragic case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
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