YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY – A New York teenager tragically killed near her university in Chicago was commemorated as a cherished student-athlete known for her faith, joy, and positivity, as hundreds gathered for a public memorial in her hometown.
On a chilly Saturday, grieving attendees filled Jack DeVito Memorial Field in Yorktown, bringing photos, pins, and personalized jerseys to celebrate the life of Sheridan Gorman. The 18-year-old Loyola University freshman was fatally shot by an illegal immigrant near a Chicago lakefront on March 19.
“Sheridan was our joy, our collective joy, and now that joy has gone,” her heartbroken father, Thomas Gorman, said to the tearful crowd dressed in the town’s green and white colors.
“But standing here tonight looking at you all, seeing the green and white, I know something – that joy didn’t just last in our home. It lives here in this community and with those beyond our town. We are heartbroken, but we are not alone, and because of you, we are being carried through this,” he added.
Thomas Gorman wore his daughter’s lacrosse jersey as he stood beside his wife and daughter at the vigil.
They described Sheridan as a confident young woman, a devout Christian, and a standout high school athlete who inspired and encouraged those around her.
“Sheridan was the best of all of us – she didn’t just cheer for people, she believed in them,” her grieving mother, Jessica, shared with the crowd.
“She knew that enthusiasm, positive thinking, and showing up for each other doesn’t just win games, it changes lives, and that is exactly what you’re all doing here tonight,” she continued.
“As a mom, I’m angry, I’m completely heartbroken, and we’re going to fight for justice … because at the heart of all of this, we all want the same thing – for your children and for ours to be safe, to be protected, to come home … protecting them, loving them, showing up for them, that is how we honor her,” Jessica expressed.
Around 1 a.m., Sheridan and five friends were on a Chicago pier hoping to see the northern lights when a masked gunman allegedly emerged from hiding and fired a shot that struck her in the head as she tried to escape.
Jose Medina-Medina, a Venezuelan national who entered the US in 2023 and was previously released from jail, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, weapons charges, and related crimes.
Gorman’s older sister, Maddie, born just 11 months apart, expressed her difficulty in saying goodbye, reflecting on the significant milestones she will miss sharing with her sibling.
“She walked into every room like she belonged there because she did, and it wasn’t just that she had confidence, she gave it away,” she spoke through tears.
“She made people feel like they mattered, like they were included, like they were enough, and she did that for me more than anyone,” Maddie added.
A private funeral service took place earlier at the First Presbyterian Church of Yorktown.
One couple mentioned that Sheridan, who was cremated, was always cheerful and positive. They hope her family and the grieving community find justice.
“I still can’t believe this, I am in shock,” a mourner shared with The Post after the service.
“Especially as a parent, I just can’t believe this happened. I want justice for her,” the mourner concluded.
