The mother of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, a Loyola University Chicago freshman gunned down near campus, has made an emotional public vow to fight for justice for her daughter — while pointedly refusing to even mention the name of the undocumented migrant charged with the killing.

Sheridan Gorman, described by family as a deeply loving and joyful young woman who was everyone’s cheerleader, was shot in the back and killed early Thursday morning while walking with a group of friends near Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park. The group had gone out hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights. Prosecutors say 25-year-old Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national living in the U.S. illegally, emerged from hiding behind a lighthouse structure, brandished a gun, and fired at the group as they tried to run. Sheridan was struck and died from her injuries.

Outside the family’s home in Yorktown Heights, New York, Sheridan’s mother Jessica Gorman stood with visible grief, calling her daughter’s death devastating and declaring, “We are gonna get justice for Sheridan. We have a voice and it’s gonna be heard. We are beyond shattered.” Yet when directly asked about the accused gunman — an undocumented migrant from Venezuela with a prior criminal history who had been released into the U.S. in 2023 — Jessica chose not to address him at all. “We are really focusing this week specifically on burying our daughter,” she said. “We are really focusing on the beauty of her life. We are not addressing this man.”

The family has emphasized that their priority right now is mourning Sheridan, celebrating her life, and planning her burial. In a statement, they described her as having her entire future ahead — her education, her dreams, and the countless lives she would have touched — all taken in a single moment. They made clear that what happened to Sheridan cannot be dismissed as simply being “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” insisting she was in an area understood to be safe, walking with friends near her dorm.

Jose Medina faces charges including first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon. Federal officials with ICE have issued a detainer and criticized sanctuary policies in Chicago and Illinois, arguing the suspect should never have been on the streets. Medina reportedly had a prior shoplifting arrest and a missed court date, yet remained in the country.

The shooting has sparked intense debate about public safety, immigration enforcement, and Chicago’s sanctuary city status. Governor JB Pritzker called the murder a tragedy and said the responsible person must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was pressed on whether he would apologize for policies that some argue enabled the suspect to remain free, but the family has deliberately kept their focus away from the accused and on honoring Sheridan.

At Loyola University and across the Chicago area, students and the community have expressed shock and sorrow. Sheridan was a freshman excited about her new chapter in college, and her death has left classmates and friends reeling. Vigils and tributes continue as the family prepares to lay her to rest.

Jessica Gorman’s refusal to name or discuss the gunman has drawn attention, with some seeing it as a mother’s choice to protect her daughter’s memory from being overshadowed by the killer, while others view it as part of a broader reluctance in certain circles to confront the immigration status of the accused. The family has made it clear they will not let Sheridan’s name be forgotten and will use their voice to demand justice.

This heartbreaking case highlights the devastating impact of violent crime on families and communities. Sheridan Gorman was doing something innocent and joyful — walking with friends on a chilly Chicago night hoping to see the northern lights. Instead, her life was cut short in a split-second act of violence.

As the legal process moves forward, Sheridan’s mother has vowed that her daughter’s voice will be heard. The family’s focus remains on celebrating the beauty of Sheridan’s short but vibrant life while pursuing accountability through the justice system. For now, they ask the public to remember Sheridan not for how she died, but for the loving, cheerful young woman she was — the daughter, friend, and student whose light was extinguished far too soon.