An 18-year-old freshman student at Loyola University Chicago was shot and killed in the early hours of Thursday, March 19, 2026, while walking with friends near the university’s Lake Shore Campus in the Rogers Park neighbourhood of Chicago. The victim, identified by Loyola University President Mark C. Reed as Sheridan Gorman, a native of Yorktown, New York, was shot in the head on the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach in the 1000 block of West Pratt Boulevard and was pronounced dead at the scene. No other members of the group were injured in the attack.
Chicago police confirmed that the shooting occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m., when an unknown male suspect wearing all-black clothing and a ski mask approached Gorman and three friends on foot, jumped from nearby brush onto the pier, and opened fire in the group’s direction. A single shell casing was recovered approximately 40 feet from where Gorman fell. Investigators said the shooting appeared to have been a random attack and stated that Gorman was not the intended target. No arrests had been made as of the time of reporting, and the suspect remained unidentified and at large. Chicago Police detectives said they were reviewing surveillance footage and other available evidence.
Gorman had just returned from spring break and had gone for a late-night walk on the pier with three friends when the attack occurred. Audio from police radio indicated that a 911 caller described the shooter as a man in a ski mask wearing all black. A neighbour near the scene said they heard a single loud sound before hearing screaming approximately 20 minutes later, initially believing the sound to have been fireworks.
Loyola University Chicago President Mark C. Reed addressed the university community in a letter, stating that it was with profound sadness that he shared the news of a student’s death just north of the Lake Shore Campus. Reed described the death as a tragic loss and expressed condolences to Gorman’s family, loved ones, and all who knew her. The university confirmed it was in close contact with law enforcement, stated that there was no ongoing threat to the campus community based on available information, and announced that counseling services had been made available to students.
Thomas Murray, Loyola University Chicago’s director of campus safety, confirmed publicly that the gunman had been wearing a mask at the time of the attack.
Gorman’s family released a statement in which they described her as the light of their lives and said she made people feel seen, safe, and loved simply by being who she was. The family stated that she lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy. They said they trusted she would be safe, that trust had been broken, and that they were demanding answers and would not stop until the person responsible was identified and brought to justice. Gorman’s father, Thomas Gorman, asked that people go home and hug their children.
Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman, a public official in Gorman’s hometown in Westchester County, New York, described the loss as tragic and stated that his heart went out to the family.
What were the circumstances of the Sheridan Gorman shooting at Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park?
Tobey Prinz Beach is located in the Rogers Park neighbourhood on the Far North Side of Chicago, in the 1000 block of West Pratt Boulevard. The beach and its adjoining pier are situated less than one mile north of Loyola University Chicago’s Lake Shore Campus, and local residents and students have described the area as a popular gathering spot, particularly during warmer months. Residents described the location as a quiet neighbourhood where people routinely walk dogs and spend time at the beach.
Chicago police stated that Gorman was not the intended target and that investigators are actively searching for the shooter. No arrests had been made as of the time of reporting. Investigators confirmed they were reviewing surveillance footage and other available evidence as part of the ongoing homicide investigation. Community members noted the absence of surveillance cameras at the precise location of the attack, a factor that has complicated the investigation.
How did Loyola University Chicago respond to the killing of freshman student Sheridan Gorman near campus?
Loyola University Chicago President Mark C. Reed addressed the university community in a letter, stating that it was with profound sadness that he shared the news of a student’s death just north of the Lake Shore Campus. Reed called the incident a tragic loss and expressed condolences to Gorman’s family, loved ones, and all who knew her. The university stated that it was in close contact with law enforcement as they investigated and worked to understand the full circumstances of the tragedy, and confirmed that, based on information available, there was no ongoing threat to the campus community. Loyola said it would continue to provide updates as confirmed information became available.
Within hours of the announcement, hundreds of Loyola University Chicago students, staff members, and community members gathered at Madonna della Strada Chapel on the university’s Lake Shore Campus for a prayer vigil in Gorman’s honour. The chapel bell rang at the start of the service, and students entered carrying flowers, many dressed in black. A memorial of flowers and candles also appeared at the site of the shooting on the Tobey Prinz Beach pier in the hours following the attack. Campus officials directed those present to university support resources at the conclusion of the vigil.
Who was Sheridan Gorman and what did her family and community say after the Rogers Park attack?
Gorman’s family released a statement in which they described her as the light of their lives and said she made people feel seen, safe, and loved simply by being who she was. The family stated that she lived her faith with kindness, compassion, and joy, and that she loved her family and friends deeply. They said they trusted she would be safe, that trust had been broken, and that they were demanding answers and would not stop until the person responsible was identified and brought to justice. The family called the killing a murder and urged anyone with information to come forward.
On Friday, March 20, 2026, Gorman’s family visited the pier where she was killed and tossed flowers into Lake Michigan in her memory, as Loyola University Chicago staff members and members of the Rogers Park community also paid their respects at the site.
Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman, a public official in Gorman’s hometown in Westchester County, New York, described the loss as tragic and expressed that his heart went out to the family. He described Yorktown as a strong community that would stand with its residents and support the Gorman family.
What does the killing of Sheridan Gorman near Loyola University Chicago reveal about campus safety and urban gun violence?
The killing of Sheridan Gorman near the Loyola University Chicago campus has prompted discussions among students and community members about the adequacy of public safety measures in and around urban university campuses in the United States. Chicago, the third-largest city in the United States, has experienced persistent challenges with gun violence across multiple neighbourhoods, and incidents near university campuses have at times raised questions about the boundaries between campus security jurisdiction and broader municipal law enforcement responsibilities.
Students at Loyola University Chicago voiced concern about their personal safety following the shooting. Several students described the shooting as occurring dangerously close to campus and said the knowledge that the suspect remained at large caused anxiety among the student body. One student who was a classmate of Gorman’s said Gorman had sat directly in front of her in class and described her as very sweet.
Rogers Park is a densely populated Far North Side neighbourhood with a large student population drawn by the presence of Loyola University Chicago. The neighbourhood borders the lakefront and has historically been regarded as relatively mixed in demographic and economic terms. The presence of Tobey Prinz Beach as a public recreational space accessible at all hours introduces a security variable that differs from enclosed campus environments.
Chicago police confirmed the investigation remained active and urged anyone with information about the suspect or the shooting to come forward.
Key takeaways on what the killing of Sheridan Gorman means for Loyola University Chicago, the Rogers Park neighbourhood, and public safety discussions in Chicago
- Sheridan Gorman, 18, a freshman student at Loyola University Chicago and a native of Yorktown, New York, was fatally shot on the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park at approximately 1:30 a.m. on March 19, 2026, less than one mile from the university’s Lake Shore Campus.
- Chicago police have described the shooting as a random attack in which Gorman was not the intended target; the masked suspect fled the scene, no arrests have been made, and the investigation remains active as of March 21, 2026.
- Loyola University Chicago confirmed no ongoing threat to the campus community, activated counseling services, and stated it is cooperating with law enforcement; a candlelight vigil was held at Madonna della Strada Chapel on campus within hours of the announcement.
- Gorman’s family publicly characterized the killing as murder, demanded accountability, and called on anyone with information to come forward to Chicago police.
- The incident has intensified discussions among students and community members about public safety around urban university campuses in Chicago and the availability of surveillance infrastructure in publicly accessible lakefront recreational areas.
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