Illegal immigrant charged with brutal murder of Sheridan Gorman caught with 'homemade weapon' in jail

Jose Medina mug shot.

The illegal immigrant charged with murder in the killing of college freshman Sheridan Gordon in Chicago was in possession of a makeshift knife while incarcerated, the Cook Country Sheriff's office said, prompting a strong reaction from the victim's grieving parents.

Jose Medina, the 26-year-old illegal immigrant from Venezuela who authorities say murdered the 18-year-old college freshman in March, was found to be in possession of a six-inch shank early on Thursday morning, CBS News reported. Gorman's parents spoke out about the discovery on Monday as Medina returned to court for a pre-trial hearing.

Jail staff members reportedly received a tip that Medina was in possession of a weapon, and upon searching him, discovered a piece of metal sharpened to resemble a blade with a handle made of medical tape. Medina is awaiting a murder trial for the killing of Gorman, a freshman at Loyola University in Chicago, who was murdered while out with friend during the overnight hours as they tried to glimpse the Northern Lights. 

"The man accused of murdering our daughter has now reportedly been found in jail with a homemade weapon," Sheridan's father, Tom Gorman, said while speaking to reporters outside court in Chicago. "Other inmates feared for their safety. So, let's stop pretending that this man is harmless and has the mentality of a child," he added, referencing the defense lawyers' claims that a head injury Medina once suffered has left him prone to poor judgment. 

"These policies did not protect Sheridan," Gorman continued. "They protected him."

Medina was caught illegally entering the country at the southern border in 2023, but was allowed to continue into the U.S. at the time under Biden's border policies, even though border agents deemed him to be a risk. 

Below, watch a clip of Gorman's grieving mother and father discussing the case on Monday, and seeing Medina in court. 

"It's like looking at evil, straight on," Jessica Gorman the victim's mother said.