Chicago alderwoman closes office after 'wrong place at the wrong time' comment on slain student fuels backlash

A Chicago alderwoman closed her bureau for the remainder of the week aft backlash implicit comments that a slain assemblage pupil was successful the "wrong spot astatine the incorrect time," citing information concerns.

Sheridan Gorman, 18, was killed connected March 19 astir 1 a.m. erstwhile she was connected a pier successful the city's Rogers Park area, conscionable northbound of Loyola University Chicago, wherever the freshman attended college. The fishy successful Gorman's murder, 25-year-old Jose Medina-Medina, an amerciable migrant from Venezuela, was apprehended by the U.S. Border Patrol connected May 9, 2023, past released into the U.S. nether the Biden administration, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

After the shooting, Alderwoman Maria Hadden suggested successful an interrogation with Fox 32 Chicago that Gorman was successful the "wrong spot astatine the incorrect time," adding that she mightiness person "startled" the idiosyncratic accused of sidesplitting her.

In a Facebook communicative posted connected Wednesday, Hadden announced her bureau would beryllium closed for the remainder of the week owed to information concerns.

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Chicago Alderwoman Maria Hadden was blasted online implicit her effect to the sidesplitting of Sheridan Gorman. (End Wokeness via X/ Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)

"My squad and I are taking these precautions to guarantee our information and quality to support the level of work that you expect of us. I americium inactive moving arsenic accustomed and volition beryllium retired and astir successful our ward this week," she wrote.

Hadden apologized for the comments, which she said had "gone viral connected blimpish media," stating that her comments were successful notation to a question that compared Gorman's execution to a abstracted lawsuit successful 2018.

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Sheridan Gorman smiles alongside the Chicago skyline successful Illinois.  (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)

"In an effort to marque consciousness of a senseless situation, I said things that landed incorrect with immoderate people," Hadden said. "My comments were ne'er intended to blasted the unfortunate oregon to connote that Sheridan should not person been retired enjoying the parkland oregon that it was her responsibility that she was shot."

"I sincerely apologize for immoderate further symptom that my comments whitethorn person caused," Hadden added. "The information that immoderate media outlets are intentionally creating dependable bites to misconstrue my words during this calamity is besides unfortunate."

The Gorman household said successful a connection that Sheridan's assemblage was brought backmost to Yorktown Heights, her hometown, connected Tuesday.

"The Gorman household extends its deepest gratitude to the Yorktown Police Department and the galore instrumentality enforcement agencies who escorted Sheridan location yesterday," the household said. "What could person been an unbearable travel was carried retired with dignity, honor, and profound respect. We are profoundly thankful for the attraction shown to our girl and to our household successful that moment."

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Sheridan Gorman was allegedly killed by Jose Medina. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram and DHS)

Medina-Medina was scheduled to look successful tribunal connected Monday but the proceeding was postponed due to the fact that he's hospitalized with tuberculosis. The proceeding is scheduled for Friday morning. A Cook County Sheriff's Office spokesperson told Fox News Digital connected Friday that Medina-Medina is presently successful the aesculapian part of their jail.

Medina-Medina successful 2023 was charged with shoplifting aft prosecutors said helium stole conscionable implicit $130 successful merchandise from a Macy's successful downtown Chicago.

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He failed to look for a tribunal proceeding for the shoplifting charge, resulting successful a nonaccomplishment to look warrant being issued. That warrant was inactive progressive erstwhile helium allegedly changeable and killed Gorman, according to tribunal records.

A constabulary root earlier told Fox News that the shooting was an evident ambush, adding that the fishy was reportedly wearing immoderate benignant of look disguise oregon covering.

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Sheridan Gorman was killed aft being changeable successful the caput portion taking a locomotion with friends astatine Tobey Prinz Beach, located little than a mile from the Illinois’ campus, astir 1 a.m. connected Thursday, March 19. (Sheridan G. Gorman via Instagram)

An apprehension study obtained by Fox News Digital states that aft the shooting, Medina-Medina was seen connected video successful his flat building's lobby waiting for an elevator portion helium wasn't masked. A gathering technologist told constabulary that helium knew the fishy who had a "very chiseled limp and gait."

Images of the fishy were sent to a constabulary database, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection identified the fishy arsenic Medina-Medina. He was arrested astatine his flat successful Rogers Park, according to the apprehension report.

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Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital amusement that Medina-Medina told officials helium was surviving astatine Leone Beach Park fieldhouse successful Rogers Park successful 2023, which was being utilized arsenic a city-sponsored structure for migrants.

The structure closed successful 2024, according to South Side Weekly.