The parents of Sheridan Gorman faced their daughter's accused killer as he pled not guilty on Wednesday.
The Loyola University freshman was shot and killed while hanging with friends at in Rogers Park beach. Jose Medina entered a not guilty plea through a Spanish language interpreter.
He is facing first-degree murder and weapon charges. Medina appeared in court wearing a tan Cook County jail jumpsuit and walked with a limp using a cane. The Department of Homeland Security accused the 25-year-old Venezuelan national of entering the country illegally in 2023. Prosecutors say Medina jumped out of the bushes and allegedly opened fire on the Gorman and her friend group.
Gorman was shot in the neck and died at the scene. Medina's public defender says her client suffers from brain damage after being shot in the head in 2018.
"We are interested in only one thing, to make sure that this does not happen to another family," father Tom Gorman said. "Let me tell you what this actually looks like: it's an empty seat at the table, it's silence where there used to be laughter, it's waking up everyday knowing that your child is gone, and nothing is going to change that. ""Our daughter was beautiful on the inside and out," she said. "She really mattered.
We are going to get justice for her.
"Medina previously appeared for a virtual hearing after his initial hearing was postponed due to a tuberculosis diagnosis.
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