Chicago police are declining to explain key decisions in the murder case of 18-year-old Loyola student Sheridan Gorman, including why a mugshot of the suspect Jose Medina-Medina has not been released and why he was previously freed after an earlier arrest.
Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, is accused of carrying out an execution-style attack, allegedly approaching Gorman and her friends while masked and opening fire as they fled, striking Gorman in the head with a single, fatal shot at close range, the New York Post reported. He was arrested by the Chicago Police Department on March 20, 2026, following an investigation into the March 19 shooting in the 1000 block of West Pratt Boulevard.Â
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) would not answer questions when contacted by the phone and did not respond to emailed questions by Chicago City Wire.
Social media users are also questioning the missing mugshot.  Â
“Chicago police department covers up migrant killer and refuses to post mugshot of the illegal that murdered American student Sheridan Gorman #ChicagoScanner,” SubXNews said on X.
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Sheridan Gorman, 18, was fatally shot in an alleged execution-style attack by Venuzuelan illegal immigrant Jose Medina-Medina. (Department of Homeland Security )
Medina-Medina has been charged with multiple felony offenses in connection with the killing of Gorman including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated assault with a firearm and unlawful possession of a weapon. He is scheduled for a detention hearing on March 23, 2026.
As the case draws national attention, it continues to fuel debate over immigration enforcement, sanctuary policies and public safety in Chicago.
Federal officials have also intervened. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a detainer request, urging Illinois officials not to release the suspect from custody.
DHS did release a photo of the alleged killer from when he was detained and then released by the Biden Administration aer crossing the Mexican border in 2023. 
Jose Medina-Medina, accused of executing 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, was arrested by Chicago police.(Department of Homeland Security)
“We have lodged an arrest detainer requesting sanctuary politicians NOT release Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan criminal illegal alien arrested for killing 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman in Chicago, Illinois,” the Department of Homeland Security said on X.Â
DHS detailed the shooting.Â
“Medina-Medina shot and killed Gorman Thursday morning while she was walking in a park with friends. Medina-Medina approached her while wearing a mask and armed with a gun,” DHS said on X. “As she attempted to flee, he fired his gun and shot her. Gorman was pronounced dead at the scene.”
According to DHS, Medina-Medina had previously been apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in 2023 and released into the country, and was later arrested in Chicago for shoplifting but released again.
“Medina-Medina should have never been in our country, but was RELEASED into our communities by the Biden administration,” the agency said on X. “He was then released AGAIN following an arrest for shoplifting in Chicago, Illinois.”
Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis criticized those prior decisions. Â
“Sheridan Gorman had her whole life ahead of her before this cold-blooded killer decided to end her life. She was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who RELEASED this illegal alien TWICE before he went on to commit this heinous murder,” Bis said in a DHS press release. “We are calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker and Chicago’s sanctuary politicians to commit to not releasing this criminal illegal alien from jail back into American neighborhoods.”
The agency further noted that Illinois has refused to release 4,000 illegal immigrants imprisoned in state facilities “including murderers, sexual predators, and those convicted of or charged with weapons offenses” into federal custody.
