In an emotional and deeply revealing moment outside their family home in Yorktown Heights, New York, the mother of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman has vowed to fight for justice for her slain daughter — while deliberately refusing to even acknowledge the undocumented migrant charged with her murder.

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

Standing with visible heartbreak, Jessica Gorman told reporters, “We are gonna get justice for Sheridan. We have a voice and it’s gonna be heard. We are beyond shattered.” Yet when pressed about the accused gunman — an undocumented Venezuelan with a prior criminal history who had been released into the country in 2023 — she chose not to address him at all. “We are really focusing this week specifically on burying our daughter,” she said firmly. “We are really focusing on the beauty of her life. We are not addressing this man.”

The family has made it clear their immediate priority is mourning Sheridan, celebrating the vibrant life she lived, and preparing to lay her to rest. They described her as a young woman with her entire future ahead — her education, her dreams, and the countless lives she would have touched — all stolen in a single violent moment. They reject any framing of the tragedy as simply being “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” emphasizing that Sheridan was in what was understood to be a safe area near her dorm, walking with friends.

Jose Medina faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault with a firearm, and unlawful use of a weapon. ICE has issued a detainer, criticizing Chicago’s sanctuary policies that some argue allowed the suspect to remain free despite a prior shoplifting arrest and missed court date.

The shooting has ignited fierce debate about public safety, immigration enforcement, and sanctuary city policies in Chicago and Illinois. Governor JB Pritzker called the murder a tragedy and said the perpetrator must be held fully accountable. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has faced questions about whether he would apologize for policies critics say enabled the suspect’s presence, but the family has intentionally kept their public statements focused solely on Sheridan.

At Loyola University and across Chicago, students and the community remain in shock. Sheridan was a bright freshman excited about her new chapter in college, and her death has left classmates reeling. Vigils and tributes continue as the family prepares for her burial.

Jessica Gorman’s pointed refusal to name or discuss the gunman has drawn significant attention. Some see it as a grieving mother’s choice to protect her daughter’s memory from being overshadowed by the killer. Others interpret it as part of a broader reluctance in certain circles to confront the immigration status of the accused. The family has stressed they will not let Sheridan’s name fade and will use their voice to demand justice through the legal system.

This devastating case underscores the human cost of violent crime and the deep pain it inflicts on families. Sheridan Gorman was doing something innocent and hopeful — walking with friends on a chilly Chicago night to see the northern lights. Instead, her life was ended in a split-second act of violence.

As the legal proceedings move forward, Sheridan’s mother has vowed that her daughter’s voice will be heard. The family’s focus remains on honoring the beauty of Sheridan’s short but radiant life while seeking accountability. 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.