The man accused of killing Sheridan Gorman lost part of his brain and “the development of a child,” his attorney told a court as the case in the death of a Chicago college student continues to unfold.Jose Medina-Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, appeared before a Chicago judge on Friday and was ordered held without bail. His defense attorney, Julie Koehler, argued that he suffered from cognitive impairment after suffering a gunshot wound to the head.“Today his brain is developing like a child’s,” Kohler told the court, adding that he had lost part of his brain. She said the injuries occurred during a robbery in Colombia, where Medina-Medina had been living with her mother since the family fled in 2016.The injury forced him to relearn basic functions such as walking and speaking, according to the defense. The attorney’s comments suggest the defense may raise an insanity argument as the case progresses.The hearing was conducted via video from a ward inside the Cook County Jail by Medina, an illegal immigrant. He wore a surgical mask and listened through a Spanish interpreter after testing positive for tuberculosis. His lawyers also asked for epilepsy treatment and for him to remain in the prison’s medical facility to avoid deportation.Prosecutors have given a dramatically different account of the events that killed 18-year-old Gorman. They told the court that on March 19, Medina-Medina left Toby Printz’s apartment near the beach wearing a ski mask. Gorman and five friends were watching the Northern Lights on a pier when the attack allegedly occurred.According to prosecutors, Gorman noticed someone hiding nearby and quietly warned her friend. As the group tried to leave, Medina-Medina allegedly emerged from hiding and fired one shot, hitting her in the back while others sought cover.He reportedly walked around the dock before leaving. The team later found Gorman unconscious.Medina-Medina was identified after his mother recognized him on surveillance video, police said. He entered the United States in 2023 and had previously been arrested for shoplifting.He now faces charges including first-degree murder and weapons offenses. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 15.
