It shouldn’t be this hard to keep people safe.
An 18-year-old girl is dead. And by all accounts, there were multiple chances to stop it.
.@SecMullinDHS on the savage illegal alien who murdered Loyola student Sheridan Gorman after being set free by Democrat politicians: “Three different times this individual should have been deported, and they didn’t—and it’s cost Sheridan her life.” pic.twitter.com/mvvevtS5Jc
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 23, 2026
A Night That Should’ve Been Special
Sheridan Gorman was out with friends on March 19.
They were near a pier in Chicago, watching the northern lights. A quiet night. Something most of us would call a once-in-a-lifetime kind of night.
It turned into a nightmare.
According to reporting, Gorman spotted a man near a lighthouse and warned her friends. They started to leave. Then he chased them.
As they ran, Jose Medina-Medina allegedly shot Gorman in the back.
Her friends kept running until they found somewhere to hide. When they came back, she was unresponsive.
Just like that, a life was gone.
The Arrest and the Evidence
Police say the case against Medina-Medina came together quickly.
Surveillance video reportedly showed him inside his apartment building after the shooting. A building engineer recognized him, pointing out his distinct limp.
From there, authorities tracked him down and arrested him at his apartment.
A retired Chicago police official later said the video evidence is “extremely strong,” noting that jurors can see it for themselves.
Jose Medina-Medina is a Venezuelan national who had already been on law enforcement’s radar. He was first picked up at the southern border in May 2023.
He wasn’t deported. He was released into the country.
About a month later, he was arrested in Chicago for shoplifting. He even missed court on that case. A warrant was still active.
And yet, he was still on the street.
Officials say there were at least three chances to remove him before this ever happened. Three times the system had a chance to step in.
And three times it didn’t.
Policies With Real Consequences
Chicago has a sanctuary policy. It limits how much local police work with federal immigration authorities like ICE.
Supporters say it helps build trust. They say people are more willing to talk to police if they’re not worried about deportation.
Okay. That’s the argument.
But critics say those same policies can block cooperation that could stop dangerous individuals from slipping through the cracks.
And now we’ve got a case where those cracks look a whole lot like a wide-open door.
The Courtroom Moment
On Wednesday, April 30, 2026, Medina-Medina stood in court for his arraignment.
He pleaded not guilty to everything.
That includes first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, weapons charges, and more. He’s also facing a federal charge for illegal firearm possession.
For Sheridan’s parents, that moment was devastating.
“This was not just a senseless tragedy. It was preventable,” Sheridan’s father said after the hearing. “There were laws already in place… and somehow they were not enforced.”
More Complications, But Still Questions
Medina-Medina’s defense attorney says his client has serious health issues, including a past gunshot wound to the head that affected his brain, as well as epilepsy and other cognitive limitations.
They also say he once asked to be sent back to Colombia but ended up in Chicago instead.
Those details may matter in court.
But for a lot of people, they don’t answer the bigger question. Why was he here in the first place?
Why Nevada Should Be Paying Attention
These same kinds of policy debates happen here in Nevada, too.
How much should local police work with federal immigration officials?
Where do you draw the line?
Those questions don’t feel abstract when you see how this plays out in real life.
A Family Left With One Question
“She really mattered. And we’re going to get justice for her.” Sheridan’s mother said.
That’s what this comes down to.
A family is grieving. A young woman is gone. And a system that had multiple chances to act… didn’t.
People can argue policy all they want. But when something like this happens, the question isn’t complicated.
If it was preventable… why wasn’t it prevented?
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. Digital technology was used in the research, writing, and production of this article. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
