Suspect in Murder of Sheridan Gorman Receives New Charges in Federal Court

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois charged 26-year-old Jose Medina with illegal possession of a firearm April 2 in relation to the March 19 killing of Loyola first-year Sheridan Gorman.

This federal charge adds to the six already brought against the suspect in the Circuit Court of Cook County including one count of unlawful possession of a weapon which includes lacking a Firearm Owners Identification Card.  

Medina gained national attention when it was revealed that he was an immigrant from Venezuela living in the United States illegally, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. Attorney Andrew Boutros and Special Agent in Charge of Chicago’s Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Christopher Amon announced the federal criminal complaint in an April 2 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

“Given the senseless, cold-blooded nature of the murder of a young student with a bright future ahead of her, the Chicago U.S. Attorney’s Office will take no chances that this illegal alien perpetrator will be released back into our community,” Boutros said in the release.

Representatives for Boutros and Amon both declined The Phoenix’s request for additional comment and referred to the statements in the April 2 press release. As of April 15, Medina’s first appearance in federal court hadn’t been scheduled yet.

“ATF will pursue all applicable federal charges to ensure that those who commit acts of violence are held accountable, and I am grateful for the strong investigative work conducted by the Chicago Police Department and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office,” Amon said. “The addition of federal charges in this case further ensures that the defendant is held fully accountable under the law.”

Medina appeared in Cook County court April 15, and his arraignment is scheduled for April 29.

Editor’s note: This article was updated April 15 to included information on the arraignment date for Medina.