Loyola University Freshman Sheridan Gorman Fatally Shot Near Lake Shore Campus; Masked Gunman at Large

18-year-old Loyola freshman Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot by a masked gunman near the Lake Shore Campus. Chicago Police are currently searching for the suspect.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 19, 2026, 5:31 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fox News and FOX 32 Chicago.

A Tragic Night at Prinz Beach

The Rogers Park community and Loyola University Chicago are reeling from a violent incident that claimed the life of 18-year-old freshman Sheridan Gorman. At approximately 1:30 a.m. on Thursday, Gorman was walking with a group of friends on the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach (also known as Pratt Avenue Beach) in the 1000 block of West Pratt Boulevard. According to Chicago Police, a male suspect wearing a face covering approached the group and opened fire. Gorman was struck in the head and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other members of the group were reported injured in the attack.

University Leadership Responds

Loyola University President Mark C. Reed confirmed the victim’s identity in a somber letter addressed to students and faculty Thursday morning. Reed described the event as a "tragic loss" and extended the university's deepest sympathies to Gorman's family. While a campus safety alert was issued shortly after the shooting, university officials noted that, based on current investigative leads, there is no evidence of an ongoing threat to the campus. To support the grieving student body, the university has mobilized counseling services and organized a vigil at the Madonna della Strada Chapel.

A Community Under Pressure

The shooting occurred just blocks away from Loyola’s Lake Shore Campus, an area that has seen a recent uptick in violent incidents. Campus safety alerts indicated that detectives are investigating potential links between this homicide and other recent crimes in the district. Neighbors and students have expressed growing concern over late-night safety in Rogers Park, especially as warmer weather often correlates with increased foot traffic in the city’s lakefront parks. Despite the proximity to the university, the motive for the unprovoked shooting remains unclear.