Illinois Governor JB Pritzker's video praising Chicago's lakefront, posted to his social media accounts last September, has resurfaced amid controversy over the killing of a college student in the same area.
In the video, Pritzker described the lakefront path and trail as "absolutely gorgeous" and noted the calm atmosphere with runners passing by. The video has circulated widely online following the death of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old student at Loyola University.
Gorman was shot and killed near Tobey Prinz Beach Park in Chicago's Police District 24. Authorities have charged Jose Medina, a Venezuelan national, with her murder. According to the Department of Homeland Security, Medina had been apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in May 2023 and later arrested for shoplifting in Chicago before being released.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative critics have seized on the video to attack Pritzker and Chicago's sanctuary policies. Fox News Congressional Correspondent Bill Melugen criticized the governor and Mayor Brandon Johnson for not posting about Gorman's killing.
"Governor JB Pritzker posted this video of the Chicago lakeside to brag about how safe it is. Sheridan Gorman was just killed there by a Venezuelan immigrant his state law PROTECTED," wrote End Wokeness, a popular conservative account on X.
Acting Assistant DHS Secretary Lauren Bis issued a statement saying: "She was failed by open border policies and sanctuary politicians who RELEASED this criminal illegal alien TWICE before he went on to commit this heinous murder."
Conservatives have called on Pritzker to commit to not releasing the suspect back into the community if he is released from jail, and have linked the incident to broader criticism of federal immigration enforcement.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive commentators and Democratic allies have defended Pritzker, noting that crime statistics for the area show improvement in several categories. Recent police data indicates that thefts, burglary and motor vehicle theft have decreased in District 24.
Some progressive voices have pointed to the complexity of immigration cases, arguing that federal policies and local law enforcement coordination—not state policy alone—determine how suspects are handled. Others have noted that violent crime remains a national issue affecting cities across political lines.
Defenders of the governor argue that highlighting positive aspects of Chicago's neighborhoods is a normal function of elected officials, and that one tragic incident should not define an entire area.
What the Numbers Show
Chicago's Police District 24, which includes the lakefront area where Gorman was killed, has reported three murder cases, 19 sexual assaults and 32 aggravated battery incidents so far in 2026.
The district ranks second in murders among the six districts included in Chicago's Area 3, which covers a significant portion of the city's northern side.
However, recent police reports indicate that thefts, burglary and motor vehicle theft have decreased in the area compared to previous periods. The district has seen improvements in property crime categories while reporting increases in violent crimes including murder, sexual assaults and aggravated battery.
Jose Medina was first apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol in May 2023, according to DHS. He was later arrested for shoplifting in Chicago and released in June 2023 before the incident involving Gorman.
The Bottom Line
The resurfacing of Pritzker's video has amplified scrutiny of Chicago's approach to public safety and immigration enforcement at a time when the city continues to grapple with violent crime. The killing of Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old college student, has become a focal point for critics who argue that sanctuary policies fail to protect residents.
The governor's office did not respond to requests for comment on the lakefront area and its crime rates. As the case proceeds through the legal system, advocates on both sides are likely to continue using this incident to debate broader questions about immigration enforcement and local public safety strategies.
What remains clear is that Gorman's family has called for accountability, with her father warning that sanctuary city policies would cost lives—a prediction he said was tragically fulfilled.