He shot her in the back as she ran away: prosecutors

A detention hearing for the suspect charged with the murder of a Loyola University student was postponed due to the suspect being hospitalized with tuberculosis. However, new details about the investigation were revealed by prosecutors, including the use of facial recognition technology in identifying the suspect.

Jose Medina, 25, of Rogers Park, is facing charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University. According to prosecutors, Gorman and her friends were at Loyola Beach in the early hours of the morning to take pictures when they encountered Medina, who was wearing a mask and hiding near a light beacon on the pier. When Gorman and her friends tried to run back to the beach, Medina allegedly fired a shot that struck Gorman in the back, ultimately leading to her death.

Chicago police investigators were able to track the suspect to an apartment building on North Sheridan Road using surveillance footage. Additional footage from the building showed the suspect without his mask, and a building maintenance worker identified him as Medina. A search warrant executed at Medina’s apartment led to the recovery of a .40 caliber handgun, which was later matched to a shell casing found on the pier.

In a surprising turn of events, U.S. Customs and Border Protection used facial recognition technology to link the suspect in the surveillance footage to Jose Medina. This development comes amidst Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy’s efforts to ban law enforcement agencies in Illinois from using facial recognition technology. Cassidy introduced a bill just a day before the shooting that would prohibit the use of facial recognition technology by state and local law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Homeland Security has also weighed in on the case, lodging an immigration detainer against Medina, who they described as a “Venezuelan criminal illegal alien.” Court records show that Medina was previously arrested for shoplifting in 2023 but failed to appear in court, leading to an arrest warrant being issued.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds for remembrance and memorial activities in Gorman’s name, with nearly $150,000 raised so far.

This article highlights the use of facial recognition technology in criminal investigations and the ongoing debate surrounding its use in law enforcement. It also sheds light on the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Sheridan Gorman and the legal proceedings involving the suspect, Jose Medina.