The illegal immigrant charged in the fatal shooting of a Loyola University student in Chicago last month was ordered by a judge Wednesday to submit a DNA sample, as prosecutors continue building their case in a killing that has drawn national attention.
Jose Medina, 25, a Venezuelan national accused of murdering 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman, must provide a buccal swab and fingerprints to the Illinois State Police for inclusion in the state’s DNA database. The order came over the objection of Medina’s public defender during a court appearance focused on pretrial motions and evidentiary procedures.
Medina faces multiple charges at both the state and federal levels, including first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and unlawful possession of a weapon. Federal prosecutors have separately charged him with illegal firearm possession, which carries a potential sentence of up to 10 years in prison.
Authorities allege that on March 19, Gorman was walking with friends near a Rogers Park pier along the lakefront when Medina stepped out and opened fire. Gorman was struck and killed at the scene, while her friends escaped unharmed.
In addition to the evidentiary dispute, Wednesday’s hearing also addressed concerns over Medina’s medical condition. His public defender requested court intervention, stating that a bullet fragment lodged in his nasal cavity is causing ongoing pain and visible distress. The defense argued the fragment may require surgical evaluation and removal.
Medina’s attorney also told the court that he suffers from lasting injuries stemming from a prior shooting in Colombia in 2018, where he was allegedly shot in the head during a robbery. According to the defense, the incident left him with significant brain damage and physical impairments, including a spinal injury that requires the use of a cane.
The judge granted a request for medical evaluation and ordered Cermak Health Services, which oversees inmate care in the Cook County jail system, to coordinate with Medina’s legal team regarding treatment and access to medical records.
Medina has remained in custody since his initial court appearance in late March. His arraignment is scheduled for April 29.
The case has also become a flashpoint in the broader debate over immigration enforcement, as previously reported details show Medina was released into the United States in 2023 despite being flagged by federal authorities as a potential flight risk with no valid asylum claim.
Gorman’s family has blamed systemic failures for allowing Medina to remain free prior to the shooting, arguing that the circumstances surrounding his release had deadly consequences.
The Gorman family released a statement after the charges were announced in March, saying, “We are gravely disappointed by the policies and failures that allowed this individual to remain in a position to commit this crime. When systems fail — whether through release decisions, lack of coordination, or unwillingness to act — the consequences are not abstract. They are real. And in our case, they are permanent.”
With forensic testing underway and pretrial proceedings continuing, the case is moving into a phase where both evidentiary development and broader political scrutiny are likely to intensify.
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