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In a heartbreaking incident, an 18-year-old freshman at Loyola University lost her life in a shooting that occurred early Thursday morning while she was walking with friends near a Lake Michigan beach.
Sheridan Gorman, a promising student, found herself at the Tobey Prinz Beach pier, close to her university’s Chicago campus, shortly after 2 a.m. According to WLS, the peaceful night was shattered when a masked individual approached the group on foot, brandishing a firearm and subsequently opening fire. Tragically, Gorman was struck in the head and succumbed to her injuries at the scene. Authorities have indicated that Gorman was not the intended victim, though they have not clarified if another member of the group was the actual target.
Loyola University expressed deep sorrow over the incident in an official statement, extending condolences to Gorman’s family, friends, and all who knew her. “This is a tragic loss, and our hearts go out to Sheridan’s family, loved ones, and all who knew her. We are in close contact with law enforcement as they investigate and work to understand the full circumstances of this tragedy,” the statement read. The university assured the community that there is currently no ongoing threat and promised to provide updates as more information becomes available.
Meanwhile, Gorman’s family, residing in Yorktown, New York, shared their grief in a statement to WMAQ, mourning the loss of their beloved daughter and sister.
Gorman’s family in Yorktown, New York, provided a statement to WMAQ.
“Our beloved daughter, Sheridan, was taken from us this morning in Chicago. There is no way to soften this—this was murder,” the statement said. “Sheridan was the light of our lives. She made people feel seen, safe, and loved simply by being who she was. She lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy, and she loved her family and friends deeply.”
The family acknowledged “the outpouring of support from the various communities connected to our family” and asked for privacy to process their grief.
Police said the group did not know the gunman.