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A Venezuelan migrant, accused of murdering Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman in March, made a court appearance on Wednesday. During the proceedings, the judge mandated that he submit a DNA sample and authorized requests related to his medical care in preparation for his upcoming trial.
Jose Medina-Medina, 25, who entered the U.S. illegally, faces charges for the tragic shooting of 18-year-old Gorman at a pier in Rogers Park on March 19.
Medina-Medina, visibly limping, attended the court session following charges earlier this month by federal prosecutors for illegal firearm possession. This federal offense could result in a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
Besides the federal charges, Medina-Medina is also being prosecuted at the state level. He faces accusations of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and illegal weapon possession.
The case draws attention to Medina-Medina (right), who allegedly took the life of Sheridan Gorman (left). The accompanying images are credited to Sheridan Gorman’s Instagram and the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
On the murder charge, the state requested that the court order the defendant to submit a DNA sample to state police. The public defender objected, but the judge granted the motion.
The public defender also requested a trial and submitted a healthcare order noting a bullet fragment lodged in Medina-Medina’s nasal cavity.
They asked that his medical records be collected from multiple hospitals where he has received treatment, though no specific facilities were identified.
Tom, Jessica and Madelon Gorman arrive at a vigil in Yorktown, New York. (Richard Beetham/Fox News Digital)
The state did not object, and the judge granted the healthcare orders.
Fox News Digital previously reported Medina-Medina was apprehended at the southern border in 2023, flagged as a flight risk, and had no valid asylum claim before being released into the U.S. in 2023 under the Biden administration.
Records indicate he did not have a valid U.S. address or identification and was unable to provide a verifiable point of contact.
Sketch of Jose Medina-Medina in court in Chicago, Friday, March 27, 2026. Medina-Medina, who is in the country illegally, allegedly shot and killed Sheridan Gorman while she was at a pier in the Rogers Park area. (Fox News)
His arraignment is scheduled for April 29.