Loyola University Chicago’s student newspaper has come under fire after apologizing for describing the accused killer of freshman Sheridan Gorman as an “illegal immigrant,” the New York Post reports.
The Loyola Phoenix initially reported that 25-year-old Venezuelan national Jose Medina-Medina, accused of fatally shooting 18-year-old Gorman near Loyola’s Rogers Park campus, was living in the U.S. illegally—a fact confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The original headline read: “Immigrant man charged in murder of Sheridan Gorman, DHS involved.”
However, within minutes, the paper edited its coverage, replacing “illegal immigrant” with “Rogers Park resident” and issuing a public apology. Editors wrote that the first version “didn’t reflect the most important elements of the story” and that the term used “does not align with Associated Press style, nor the values of this newspaper.” The updated note added, “No human’s existence is illegal, and we quickly changed our wording to reflect that.”
Critics were swift to respond. Many online users accused the newspaper of caving to political pressure and minimizing the circumstances around Gorman’s death. “If I were her parents, this would send me over the edge,” one X user wrote. Another added, “Apologizing to murderers. How typically woke.” The Loyola Phoenix reportedly has not responded to requests for comment.
The backlash over language comes as Chicago officials face scrutiny for their own responses. Alderwoman Maria Hadden was sharply criticized for implying Gorman “was in the wrong place at the wrong time” and suggesting Medina-Medina might have been “startled” before shooting. Hadden later apologized, blaming “conservative media” for misrepresenting her remarks.
Mayor Brandon Johnson also declined to apologize to Gorman’s family for the city’s sanctuary policies, which allowed Medina-Medina—who had twice been released by U.S. authorities after crossing the border in 2023—to remain in Chicago. Federal officials have cited lax border enforcement as a factor in the tragedy.
In a statement on X, the White House called Gorman’s murder “a preventable tragedy,” blaming the Biden administration’s border policies and pledging to strengthen enforcement. “Prayers are with her loved ones,” the post concluded.
Gorman’s grieving parents, from Yorktown Heights, New York, paid tribute to their daughter over the weekend. Her mother, Jessica Gorman, vowed Monday to fight for justice in her name.