A 25-year-old Chicago man is under arrest and facing a murder charge in the death of a Westchester County woman who was killed near the college she attended, Loyola University Chicago. 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, who grew up in Yorktown Heights, was shot while walking with friends near a beach c lose to campus. Jose Medina is facing a murder charge in the shooting death of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman. In a statement Sunday night, Chicago Police identified the suspect as Jose Medina. Police say detectives took Medina into custody Friday evening at a location that matches the area where he lived. Investigators spent the weekend interviewing Medina, who they had referred to as a person of interest before announcing the arrest. According to police, at around 2:11 a.m. on Thursday, an 18-year-old woman later identified as Gorman was walking outside near Tobey Prinz Beach with a group of friends when an unknown masked man approached them. The man reportedly pulled out a gun and opened fire in the group’s direction. Gorman sustained a gunshot wound to the head and died at the scene. Medina is a Venezuelan migrant, according to NBC Chicago. Shortly before police confirmed the arrest, the Dept. of Homeland Security released a photo of Medina, and said he was in the U.S. illegally. In a statement, DHS said it has lodged an arrest detainer asking “sanctuary politicians” to not release him. DHS identifed him by the name “Jose Medina-Medina.” The statement says that on May 9, 2023, Medina “was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol and released into the country under the Biden administration,” the DHS statement said. “He was then released again on June 19, 2023, following an arrest for shoplifting in Chicago, Illinois.” Chicago Police did not release information about Medina’s immigration status. Late Sunday night, Gorman’s family responded to the arrest. “We acknowledge the arrest of the individual accused of taking our daughter’s life and thank the Chicago Police Department, Area Three Detectives, and all those involved in the investigation who worked quickly to identify and apprehend him. Their efforts matter. But this is not justice—it is the first step toward it.” The family also reacted to Medina’s history as released by DHS. “We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime. When systems fail—whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act—the consequences are not abstract. They are real. And in our case, they are permanent.” The statement went on to say, “This case must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of both state and federal law. There can be no gaps, no shortcuts, and no second chances that put others at risk. Accountability must be complete.” In an earlier statement released through an attorney, family members described the 18-year-old as someone who brought warmth and compassion to everyone around her. “Sheridan was the light of our lives,” the statement read, in part. “She made people feel seen, safe, and loved simply by being who she was. She lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy…” Loyola University Chicago President Mark C. Reed wrote a letter to the campus community following the shooting, calling Gorman’s death “a tragic loss.” “We are in close contact with law enforcement as they investigate and work to understand the full circumstances of this tragedy,” the letter issued on Thursday morning read, in part. “Based on the information available to us now, there is no ongoing threat to our campus community…” The shooting has sparked conversations about safety both on and off campus, with some students now reconsidering routines and questioning how to stay safe in a city as large as Chicago. Some said the incident is especially troubling because it appears Gorman was following common safety guidance. “She was doing everything right… there was nothing she could have done differently,” another student said. NBC Chicago contributed to this report ...read more read less