Venezuelan National Identified via Lobby Surveillance in "Ambush" Slaying of Loyola University Freshman

Chicago police arrest Jose Medina for the murder of Sheridan Gorman. Lobby video and a distinct limp helped CBP identify the Venezuelan suspect.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 8:31 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Fox News

A Fatal Ambush at Tobey Prinz Beach

The Chicago Police Department has released harrowing details regarding the arrest of a suspect in the killing of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman. On Thursday, March 19, 2026, Gorman was walking with friends near the shoreline in the Rogers Park neighborhood when she was targeted in what law enforcement describes as a sudden ambush. Initial reports indicate the assailant was wearing a face covering during the shooting, which occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. Medical responders were unable to save the Loyola University freshman, who had recently moved to the city from Yorktown Heights, New York.

Surveillance and Physical Markers Lead to Identification

The break in the case came through a combination of high-definition building surveillance and keen observation by local staff. An arrest report reveals that a man matching the shooter’s description was captured on video in a nearby apartment lobby shortly after the incident. While the suspect had been masked during the attack, he was unmasked while waiting for an elevator. A building engineer recognized the individual, noting a "very distinct limp and gait" that matched the movements of the masked figure seen fleeing the beach on city-wide cameras just minutes after the gunfire.

Federal Database Match and Immigration Status

Using the lobby footage, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) was able to cross-reference the image against federal records, confirming the suspect's identity as Jose Medina. Medina, a Venezuelan national, originally entered the United States in May 2023. Records show he was previously arrested for shoplifting in June 2023 and released. Following the identification, Chicago police executed a warrant at his Rogers Park residence on Friday, taking him into custody without incident.