Authorities are holding a Venezuelan migrant for questioning regarding the murder of Sheridan Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University. The incident occurred early Thursday morning at the Loyola Beach pier, sources indicate.
The suspect, a 25-year-old man, was apprehended just before 9 p.m. on Friday at a residential complex on the 6800 block of North Sheridan Road. This arrest was part of a search warrant execution connected to the case, as per sources. During the search, a firearm was found and is undergoing testing to determine if it matches a shell casing discovered near Gorman’s body.
Insights from sources close to the investigation reveal that there was no provocation or confrontation before the shooting. Gorman, 18, and her friends were at the lakefront to take photos when they encountered the suspect on the pier. He was reportedly wearing a ski mask or similar face covering and fired a single shot that struck Gorman as they passed.
Initially, Chicago police reported that Gorman was shot in the head. However, the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed on Friday that the fatal wound was to her torso.
Detectives utilized video surveillance from several cameras to track the suspect to the Sheridan Road apartment building. Footage from the site showed him without the face covering, and someone associated with the building identified him, according to sources. The location is within two blocks of the crime scene.
As of now, no charges have been filed. Court documents reveal that the man was previously arrested for shoplifting at Macy’s, 111 North State Street, during the summer of 2023. He failed to appear in court, leading to an outstanding warrant for his arrest since August 2023.
Gorman was from Yorktown Heights, New York, and had expressed plans to major in business at Loyola.
CWB Chicago will provide further updates as this story evolves.
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