Sanctuary Rules Free Murderer AGAIN

Chicago sanctuary policies let a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, previously released despite crimes, murder an innocent college student—now his court hearing is delayed, shielding him from justice.

Story Snapshot

18-year-old Loyola freshman Sheridan Gorman shot dead in an ambush near campus by Jose Medina, a Venezuelan who entered illegally in 2023 and was released under Biden policies.
Medina, with a prior shoplifting arrest, faces first-degree murder charges; ICE detainer issued, but Chicago’s sanctuary rules enabled his freedom.
Court appearance postponed March 23 due to Medina’s hospitalization for suspected contagious illness, frustrating victims’ calls for accountability.
Family blames immigration failures; local leaders like Ald. Ray Lopez call the death “100% avoidable” from lenient releases.

Tragic Ambush Near Loyola Campus

On March 19, 2026, around 1 a.m., 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman walked with friends near Tobey Prinz Beach Park, less than a mile from Loyola University Chicago’s campus. A masked gunman, later identified as 25-year-old Venezuelan national Jose Medina, fired at the group as Gorman fled. She suffered a fatal head wound and was pronounced dead at the scene. Videos captured Medina’s distinct limp, leading to his swift identification by Chicago Police. This ambush-style attack has left the lakeside neighborhood on edge, highlighting dangers students face amid rising crime.

Medina’s Criminal History and Policy Failures

Jose Medina crossed the U.S. southern border illegally on May 9, 2023, apprehended by Border Patrol but released under Biden administration parole policies. Chicago police arrested him for shoplifting on June 19, 2023, yet sanctuary city protocols—rooted in 1985 local laws and the Trusted and Safe Illinois Act—prevented ICE notification or detention for non-violent offenses. No monitoring followed, allowing Medina freedom until the March 2026 murder. Critics argue these failures directly enabled Gorman’s death, echoing patterns in other Venezuelan migrant crime cases from 2024.

Arrest, Charges, and Court Delay

Chicago Police arrested Medina on March 21, 2026, in Rogers Park. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm discharge, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon. ICE immediately issued a detainer to block release. His March 23 court hearing postponed after hospitalization for a suspected contagious illness, possibly tuberculosis, placing him in quarantine. This delay intensifies frustrations over sanctuary protections that prioritize offenders over victims.

Ald. Ray Lopez, a sanctuary policy opponent, labeled the killing “100% avoidable” and vowed court attendance to push federal custody. DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis urged Illinois leaders against releasing the “criminal illegal alien.” Gorman’s family demands full prosecution without “gaps or shortcuts,” blaming systemic immigration lapses.

Here's Why the Venezuelan Illegal Immigrant Who Killed a College Student Missed His Court Appearance https://t.co/1INaOBdaKW Taylor Lorenz. Hmmm. Isn't she the new spokesperson for Summer's Eve ?

— Staedt66 (@Staedt66) March 24, 2026

Community Backlash and Broader Ramifications

Loyola students report heightened fear in Rogers Park, prompting campus security boosts. Gorman’s Yorktown, New York, community honors her with green lights, her school colors. Chicago strains under 40,000+ migrants bused from Texas since 2022, fueling crime-immigration debates. Voices like commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon accuse prior federal policies of having “blood on their hands.” Contrasting local Democrat Ald. Maria Hadden’s “wrong place, wrong time” view, conservatives see clear policy-driven tragedy, pressing for enforcement reforms to protect Americans.