Judge Orders DNA Sample from Venezuelan National Charged in Chicago College Student’s Murder

Clear Facts

• Jose Medina, 25, a Venezuelan illegal immigrant, must provide DNA and fingerprints as prosecutors build their case in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman
• Medina was released into the U.S. in 2023 despite being flagged by federal authorities as a flight risk with no valid asylum claim
• The defendant faces first-degree murder, attempted murder, and federal weapons charges following the March 19 shooting near Rogers Park pier in Chicago

An illegal immigrant from Venezuela accused of murdering a Chicago college student must submit a DNA sample to Illinois State Police, a judge ruled Wednesday, despite objections from the defendant’s public defender.

Jose Medina, 25, faces first-degree murder charges in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, a Loyola University student who was killed while walking with friends near a lakefront pier on March 19. The court order requires Medina to provide a buccal swab and fingerprints for the state’s DNA database as prosecutors continue assembling evidence in the high-profile case.

Authorities say Medina stepped out and opened fire on Gorman and her friends without warning in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Gorman was struck and died at the scene. Her friends escaped without physical injury.

In addition to state murder charges, federal prosecutors have charged Medina with illegal firearm possession, which carries a potential 10-year prison sentence. He also faces charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault, and unlawful weapon possession at the state level.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Medina’s defense attorney raised concerns about his client’s medical condition, requesting court intervention for a bullet fragment lodged in his nasal cavity that is reportedly causing ongoing pain and distress. The defense argued the fragment may require surgical evaluation and removal.

The attorney also disclosed that Medina suffers from lasting injuries from a 2018 shooting in Colombia, where he was allegedly shot in the head during a robbery. According to the defense, that incident left him with significant brain damage and physical impairments, including a spinal injury requiring use of a cane.

The judge granted a medical evaluation request and ordered Cermak Health Services, which oversees Cook County jail inmate care, to coordinate with Medina’s legal team on treatment options and medical records access.

The case has become a focal point in the national debate over immigration enforcement and border security. Records show Medina entered the United States in 2023 and was released despite being flagged by federal authorities as a likely flight risk with no credible asylum claim. That decision has drawn sharp criticism from Gorman’s family and immigration enforcement advocates.

“We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime,” the Gorman family said in a statement released after charges were announced in March.

“When systems fail — whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act — the consequences are not abstract. They are real. And in our case, they are permanent.”

The family has publicly blamed systemic failures in immigration enforcement for allowing Medina to remain free prior to the shooting, arguing that lax policies enabled the tragedy. Their statement pointedly criticized administrative decisions that prioritized procedural considerations over public safety.

Medina has remained in custody since his initial court appearance in late March. His arraignment is scheduled for April 29, when he is expected to enter a formal plea to the charges.

With forensic testing now underway and pretrial proceedings advancing, the case is entering a critical evidentiary phase. Both the prosecution’s case development and the broader political scrutiny surrounding immigration policy failures are expected to intensify in the coming weeks.

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