CHICAGO, IL — An 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student was shot and killed by a masked gunman while walking with friends near a lakefront pier early Thursday morning, police said.
Sheridan Gorman, a freshman from Yorktown, New York, was struck in the head and died at the scene around 1:30 a.m. at Tobey Prinz Beach, located less than two blocks from the Rogers Park campus. Chicago police said the masked shooter approached the group of four friends on foot, pulled out a gun and opened fire before fleeing. No arrests have been made and investigators believe the shooting was random, with Gorman not being the intended target, according to authorities.
The attack occurred as Gorman and three friends had just returned from spring break and decided to take a late-night walk on the pier near Lake Michigan, according to police radio transmissions obtained by CBS Chicago. A 911 caller described the shooter as “a man in a ski mask wearing all black,” police said. Officers responded to the scene around 2:11 a.m. after hearing screams for help from the area. “I just heard the screaming. They were saying, ‘Come help us. We’re over here,'” said a Loyola junior who was awakened by the gunshot and asked to remain anonymous. The student said he believes some of Gorman’s friends hid in a grassy area near the pier as the shooter fled.
Loyola University Chicago President Mark C. Reed confirmed Gorman’s death in a message to the campus community Thursday morning. “This is a tragic loss, and our hearts go out to Sheridan’s family, loved ones, and all who knew her,” Reed wrote. “We are in close contact with law enforcement as they investigate and work to understand the full circumstances of this tragedy.” The university issued a campus safety alert stating there was no ongoing threat to the campus community. Chicago police said their investigation is ongoing and they are examining potential ties to other recent incidents of violence in the Rogers Park area, though no specific connections have been confirmed.
Gorman’s family issued a statement through their attorney demanding justice for what they called a deliberate act of murder. “Our beloved daughter, Sheridan, was taken from us this morning in Chicago. There is no way to soften this—this was murder,” the family said. “Sheridan was the light of our lives. She made people feel seen, safe, and loved simply by being who she was. She lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy, and she loved her family and friends deeply.” The family said they trusted Chicago to keep their daughter safe and that trust was broken. At a prayer vigil Thursday night, Gorman’s mother Jessica stood at the altar of the Madonna Della Strada Chapel and called on law enforcement to find accountability. “Chicago, we trusted you with our hearts and you betrayed us,” she said. “We need answers. We need accountability, and we will not stop until the person who did this is found and locked up.”
The shooting has prompted increased police patrols around the Loyola campus and the lakefront area where the attack occurred. 49th Ward Alderwoman Maria Hadden said she is reviewing security measures in the area and considering additional lighting and security cameras near the pier, which currently has no surveillance equipment. “We always consider it,” Hadden said regarding enhanced security measures. The Chicago Park District is also coordinating with police on increased patrols, according to officials. Police said the group did not know the gunman and described the attack as appearing to be random violence. Thomas Murray, Loyola’s director of campus safety, confirmed the shooter was wearing a mask during the attack.
Hundreds of students, faculty and community members gathered Thursday night at the Madonna Della Strada Chapel for a prayer vigil honoring Gorman’s life. Kim Johnson, a faculty member who worked with Gorman in Bible study and the Christian organization Cru, remembered her as always being the first and last person to offer a hug. “That’s the kind of person Sheridan was,” Johnson said. Fellow students described Gorman as deeply involved in religious campus groups and devoted to charity work. “The reality kind of hit that you never know what could happen, and especially since she’s a freshman, that’s what really got to me, because she was 18 years old, and no one should have to worry about things like this at that age,” said Loyola junior Sophie Buthion. Christopher Massingale, a freshman who lived in Gorman’s dorm building, said his last conversation with her occurred around 1 a.m. the night she died as he was studying in the lounge.
The investigation remains active with Area 3 detectives leading the case. Police have not released a detailed description of the suspect beyond the ski mask and dark clothing. Anyone with information about the shooting has been asked to contact Campus Safety at 773-508-SAFE or Chicago Police at 312-744-8263. The university is providing counseling resources and support services for students affected by the tragedy.
