Parents of slain Loyola freshman Sheridan Gorman call for accountability, not politics
Jessica and Thomas Gorman spoke publicly for first time since their daughter was killed in March
The parents of a freshman at Loyola University Chicago who was fatally shot earlier this year are calling for accountability and reform, urging leaders to look beyond political divisions in the wake of their daughter’s death.
Jessica and Thomas Gorman spoke publicly for the first time since their 18-year-old daughter, Sheridan Gorman, was killed in March near the city’s lakefront in Chicago.
The teenager, originally from Yorktown, had been walking with friends around 1:30am when a masked gunman approached and opened fire. Authorities say the attack appeared to be random, and Sheridan died at the scene.
“I don’t care what side of the aisle people are on,” her mother said in an interview, emphasising that the focus should be on preventing similar tragedies. “This can’t happen. We’ve got to make changes.”
Her father echoed the sentiment, saying, “We all should be able to agree about the safety of our kids,” while adding that policy failures may have contributed to the circumstances surrounding the case.
Police later arrested Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national who authorities say entered the United States in 2023 without legal status.
Records show he had previously been charged with theft in Chicago and released on bond but failed to appear in court, prompting a warrant for his arrest.
He is now being held without bond in Cook County and faces first-degree murder and other charges.
In a statement, a public defender representing Medina described the case as “a tragedy,” noting that he suffered a serious head injury as a teenager and has diminished mental capacity.
The Gormans said they are still grappling with what accountability should look like but stressed that inaction is not an option. “We can’t save Sheridan,” her father said, “but we can’t just not do anything.”
Their appeal comes as debates continue nationwide over public safety, immigration, and criminal justice policies—issues the family hopes can be addressed with a focus on solutions rather than politics.