The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has lodged a detainer request for a Venezuelan illegal alien accused of fatally shooting an 18-year-old college student, urging Illinois officials not to release him from custody as he remains quarantined with tuberculosis.
The victim, Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was shot to death March 19 in the Rogers Park neighborhood while walking with friends near campus. Investigators say the suspect, Jose Medina-Medina, approached the group while masked and armed, then opened fire as they fled, striking Gorman in the head at close range. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sheridan Gorman, the 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago freshman who was fatally shot, allegedly by a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, on March 19 in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood. (Facebook / DuPage County Republicans)
Medina-Medina was arrested March 20 and faces multiple felony charges, including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon.
The case has drawn national attention, in part due to Medina-Medina’s prior release after entering the United States in 2023 and a subsequent shoplifting arrest, as well as the circumstances surrounding Gorman’s death and the ongoing legal proceedings.
A detention hearing scheduled for March 23 was postponed after officials said Medina-Medina is likely suffering from tuberculosis, a contagious bacterial infection requiring hospitalization. He remains in custody while receiving treatment.
“Fox News is reporting that Medina-Medina is quarantined over fears he has tuberculosis,” independent Chicago-based journalist Julie Kelly said on X. “Let’s remember–this is the sort of scum that Kenilworth Karens shed tears for, helped organize ICE protests, and posted nonstop on social media about our collective ‘humanity.’ Where are they now?”
In a post on X, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested the State of Illinois not release Medina-Medina.
“We have lodged an arrest detainer requesting sanctuary politicians NOT release Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan criminal illegal alien arrested for killing 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman in Chicago, Illinois,” DHS posted.
The agency noted the details behind Gorman’s murder.
“Medina-Medina shot and killed Gorman Thursday morning while she was walking in a park with friends. Medina-Medina approached her while wearing a mask and armed with a gun. As she attempted to flee, he fired his gun and shot her. Gorman was pronounced dead at the scene,” DHS said in its post.
DHS noted Medina-Medina had previously been apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in May 2023 before being released into the United States. Medina-Medina was later arrested in Chicago on a shoplifting charge and released again on June 19, 2023 instead of being turned over to federal immigration authorities.
“Medina-Medina should have never been in our country, but was RELEASED into our communities by the Biden administration. He was then released AGAIN following an arrest for shoplifting in Chicago, Illinois,” DHS said on X.
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis criticized sanctuary policies.
“Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life,” Bis said. “She was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who RELEASED this illegal alien TWICE before he went on to commit this heinous murder.”
Federal officials have called on Illinois leaders, including Gov. J.B. Pritzker, to keep the suspect in custody under an ICE detainer, a request that local law enforcement hold individuals for federal immigration authorities.
The DHS post also called out illegal immigrant friendly Democrats in Illinois for the politics underpinning the incident.
“Illinois sanctuary politicians and Governor Pritzker must work with us to ensure this public safety threat is NEVER released back into our neighborhoods again,” the DHS said on X.
DHS said federal officials have previously urged Illinois to cooperate with such requests involving more than 4,000 illegal immigrants currently being held in Illinois prisons “including murderers, sexual predators, and those convicted of or charged with weapons offenses.”
