An 18-year-old college freshman was shot and killed early Thursday morning as she walked with friends near a Lake Michigan beach on Chicago's North Side.
Background
Sheridan Gorman, a student at Loyola University Chicago, was with friends at Tobey Prinz Beach near the university's campus just after 2 a.m. when a masked man approached the group on foot, authorities said.
Gorman was struck in the head and died at the scene. Chicago Police Department investigators responded to the scene and began collecting evidence, including shell casings, and interviewing witnesses who were walking with Gorman.
Gorman was a first-year student at Loyola, majoring in communications. The Yorktown, New York, native had recently celebrated her 18th birthday, according to social media posts.
The Investigation
Police said the group did not know the gunman and had no prior interaction with him before the attack. The shooter fled the scene on foot after the shooting and remained at large as investigators reviewed available surveillance footage from the area.
Detectives are working to identify a suspect and determine a motive. Authorities have not disclosed whether anyone else in the group was specifically targeted or if the shooting appeared random.
Loyola University released a statement expressing grief and confirming coordination with law enforcement. 'Based on the information available to us now, there is no ongoing threat to our campus community,' the university said.
Key Takeaways
- Sheridan Gorman, 18, was a freshman at Loyola University Chicago and a native of Yorktown, New York
- The shooting occurred just after 2 a.m. at Tobey Prinz Beach near the school's campus
- A masked man approached on foot and opened fire; Gorman was struck in the head
- Police said Gorman was not the intended target but did not identify who may have been
- The shooter fled on foot and remains at large; no suspects have been named
What's Next
Chicago Police detectives continue to investigate the shooting and are reviewing surveillance footage in hopes of identifying the gunman. Authorities have not announced any suspects or made arrests in connection with the homicide. The investigation remains active as police work to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting and identify those responsible.
The family has requested privacy as they mourn their daughter's death. 'There is no way to soften this—this was murder,' the family said in a statement.