An 18-year-old Loyola University freshman was fatally shot while walking with friends in Chicago on March 19, according to authorities. The suspect, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally in May 2023, has been charged with first-degree murder in the killing of Sheridan Gorman.
Days after the shooting, Governor JB Pritzker posted a video on social media celebrating National Walking Day, describing Illinois as "the best place to walk." The post drew immediate criticism from conservative commentators and the victim's family, who called the timing tone-deaf.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive commentators and some Democratic allies have defended Pritzker, arguing that the governor's initial statement on the killing was appropriate and that criticism from conservatives is politically motivated. Supporters note that Pritzker's office released a statement expressing condolences to Gorman's family and calling for accountability.
Pritzker's office placed blame for the killing on the Trump administration, saying it needs "to stop politicizing heinous tragedies and instead focus on real solutions, like reinstating federal funds to prevent violence that support our public safety efforts." The statement emphasized that violent crime has no place in Illinois streets.
Some progressive voices have argued that focusing on the immigration status of the suspect distracts from broader issues of gun violence and mental health resources, noting that violent crimes are committed by individuals regardless of their immigration status.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative commentators have sharply criticized Pritzker's National Walking Day video, calling it inappropriate given the circumstances of Gorman's death. Fox News correspondent Matt Finn questioned whether an "innocent young 18-year-old college girl" was "senselessly murdered while out for a walk in Chicago."
Fox News Radio host Jimmy Failla wrote that "most people who go out walking in a sanctuary city end up running," referencing Illinois's status as a sanctuary state. Critics have called for stronger immigration enforcement and questioned the state's release of individuals who entered the country illegally.
The family of Sheridan Gorman has publicly pushed back on Pritzker's response, saying her "death cannot be reduced to a general 'tragedy,' nor can it be explained away by broad references to failures somewhere else." The family's statement emphasized they are "not interested in political arguments" and want accountability rather than blame-shifting.
What the Numbers Show
According to authorities, suspect Jose Medina-Medina crossed the southern border illegally in May 2023 and was released into the United States. He was later accused of shoplifting from a Macy's department store in Chicago and failed to appear for a court date, resulting in an outstanding arrest warrant.
Illinois is designated as a sanctuary state, meaning local law enforcement limitations on cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The state's immigration policies have been a point of political contention, with supporters arguing they encourage reporting of crimes and critics saying they endanger residents.
Sheridan Gorman was a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, a private Jesuit university with an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students. The killing occurred while she was walking with friends in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, a residential area near the campus.
The Bottom Line
The shooting of Sheridan Gorman has become a political flashpoint, with conservatives criticizing Pritzker's handling of the incident and his subsequent social media post. The victim's family has demanded accountability rather than political arguments, calling for direct examination of any failures in the criminal justice or immigration systems.
Pritzker's office has called for the alleged perpetrator to be held accountable "to the fullest extent of the law" while also criticizing federal immigration policies. The family has said they want specific identification and addressing of any failures, regardless of where those failures occurred. The case remains under investigation.