Venezuelan Migrant Charged in Fatal Shooting of Loyola Student as Federal Authorities Issue Immigration Detainer

Jose Medina faces murder charges in the shooting of Sheridan Gorman. Federal officials blame Illinois sanctuary policies for the tragic Rogers Park attack.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 23, 2026, 4:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Chicago Sun-Times

Rogers Park Pier Shooting Leads to First Degree Murder Charges

The Chicago Police Department announced a major breakthrough Sunday in the investigation into the violent death of a local university student. Jose Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan migrant, now faces counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder, and aggravated discharge of a firearm. The charges stem from a March 19 ambush near a pier at Tobey Prinz Beach, where 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman was fatally shot while walking with friends. Investigators successfully linked Medina to the predawn attack, which has left the Rogers Park campus community in a state of mourning and high alert.

Federal Immigration Detainer Highlights Prior Criminal Record

Hours before the local charges were finalized, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) moved to place a federal detainer on Medina, bringing his immigration status to the forefront of the case. Department of Homeland Security records indicate that Medina entered the country in May 2023 and had a prior encounter with law enforcement just two months later for a shoplifting incident at a State Street retailer. Despite an active warrant from that misdemeanor case, Medina remained in the Chicago area, at one point residing in a temporary municipal shelter before the facility was shuttered in 2024.

Sanctuary State Policies Under Intense Federal Scrutiny

The Trump administration has utilized the tragedy to launch a direct critique of the Illinois TRUST Act, a piece of legislation that restricts local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration agents. Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis issued a scathing statement, asserting that the victim was failed by "open border policies" and urging state leadership to prevent Medina's release. The policy in question generally prohibits local police from honoring ICE detainers or sharing custody information unless a federal criminal warrant is present, a standard that critics argue creates dangerous gaps in public safety.