Venezuelan National Accused in College Student’s Death Appears via Video from Hospital Bed

A Venezuelan national facing murder charges in connection with the death of an 18-year-old Loyola University student made a remote court appearance Monday from a hospital bed, where he was being treated following a weekend seizure. Jose Medina-Medina, charged in the fatal shooting of Sheridan Gorman, participated in the proceeding before a Cook County judge via video conference rather than appearing physically in the courtroom. His defense team attributed the absence to his recent medical episode and ongoing health complications.

The presiding judge instructed Medina-Medina to attend future court sessions in person, provided his medical condition permits such attendance. Defense counsel has consistently cited neurological issues stemming from a 2018 shooting incident in Colombia, during which Medina-Medina sustained a head wound, as the basis for his current health struggles. The attorney indicated the defense team requires additional medical documentation before determining what pretrial motions to pursue.

Prosecutors reported significant progress in building their case, informing the court that DNA analysis on the firearm recovered at the crime scene has been substantially completed and shared with the defense. Additional trace evidence testing remains ongoing, with prosecutors indicating they may seek further DNA examination depending on those results. The state also disclosed it has provided supplemental evidence in a separate charge alleging Medina-Medina fashioned a shank while in custody.

Medina-Medina has been incarcerated since his arrest in March and maintains a not guilty plea to the murder charge. The 18-year-old Gorman was shot in March while walking with friends near Tobey Prinz Beach in the Rogers Park neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side, with authorities alleging Medina-Medina fired the fatal shots. The case was scheduled for a status hearing on September 3.