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Inset: Sheridan Gorman (Instagram/Sheridan Gorman). Background: The area in Chicago where Gorman was shot and killed (WBBM).
An 18-year-old college freshman lost her life in a tragic shooting as a gunman opened fire on a group of friends near a Chicago lakeside beach during the early morning hours.
Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago, was fatally shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene after the Thursday incident in the Rogers Park area.
Authorities have yet to make any arrests, and the shooter, who was wearing a mask at the time, remains unidentified and on the loose.
The shooting took place shortly after 1:30 a.m. on March 19 near Tobey Prinz Beach, a favored spot along the lakefront close to Loyola’s campus, according to reporting by the Chicago Sun-Times. Gorman was with a group of friends when a masked individual approached and began shooting, hitting her once in the head.
Officials stated that Gorman was the sole victim hit by the gunfire. Investigators suggest that she may not have been the intended target, although the details surrounding the incident are still under investigation, as reported by Chicago ABC affiliate WLS.
Witnesses told investigators the suspect was wearing dark clothing and a ski mask that covered their face. After firing, they fled the area on foot.
Friends who were with Gorman reportedly ran when the gunfire erupted, then returned moments later to find her unresponsive on the ground.
The killing has shaken the community at Loyola University Chicago, where Gorman had recently begun her freshman year. University officials said they are cooperating with law enforcement and providing support resources to students affected by the shooting.
In a statement, university leadership described the incident as a devastating loss and extended condolences to Gorman’s family and friends.
“It is with profound sadness that I write to share that one of our students, Sheridan Gorman, was killed earlier today in an incident north of the Lake Shore Campus,” University President Mark C. Reed wrote in a statement. “We are in close contact with law enforcement as they investigate and work to understand the full circumstances of this tragedy. Based on the information available to us now, there is no ongoing threat to our campus community.”
Gorman, who was originally from New York, was remembered by loved ones as a kind and vibrant young woman whose life was cut short just months into her college experience, WLS reported.
Residents in the area reported hearing what sounded like a single gunshot, followed by screams, highlighting the sudden nature of the violence. One student told local CBS affiliate WBBM that the gunshot woke him up.
“I just heard the screaming. They were saying, ‘Come help us. We’re over here,’” the student, who wished to remain anonymous, reportedly said. “Since then, I couldn’t go back to sleep. It was something I never thought would happen in the community here.”
Police have not said what may have motivated the shooting and continue to search for the shooter. Authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation remains ongoing.