Sheridan Gorman was taken from us violently on March 19, 2026. We are grieving this incomprehensible loss while cooperating fully with authorities. The 18-year-old cherished resident of Chicago, Illinois and freshman at Loyola University Chicago was walking with friends along the pier at Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park around 1:30 a.m. when a masked gunman approached the group on foot and opened fire.
Sheridan suffered a single gunshot wound to the head and was pronounced dead at the scene, leaving her family, close friends, and the entire Loyola community in profound shock and sorrow as they struggle to process the sudden and senseless end of such a promising young life.
As a freshman at Loyola, she had already begun to make her mark, forming close friendships and embracing the opportunities that college life offered with the same bright energy and openness that drew people to her from the start. Those early months on campus were filled with new experiences, late night conversations, and the kind of everyday adventures that help a young student find her place in the world.
Loyola University President Mark C. Reed expressed profound sorrow over Sheridan’s passing, noting the impact she had on her classmates and the broader campus community in a heartfelt message shared with students, faculty, and staff. He described the loss as a tragic blow that has touched every corner of the university, reminding everyone of the fragility of life and the importance of caring for one another.
In her memory, the university has arranged counseling services to support grieving students and faculty, creating safe spaces for anyone needing help to process the pain and find comfort in community during these difficult days.
A vigil will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Madonna della Strada Chapel on campus, offering a sacred space for reflection, prayer, and collective remembrance where friends and classmates can gather to honor Sheridan’s short but luminous presence among them. The university has encouraged everyone affected to lean on one another and on the resources provided, emphasizing that no one has to face this grief alone.
Born and raised in Yorktown Heights, New York, Sheridan carried that same friendly spirit and love for connection with her to Chicago, where she was eagerly building a new chapter full of possibility and purpose. Her family and friends from home and school are now leaning on one another, holding tightly to memories of her laughter, her kindness, and the way she made every room feel a little brighter simply by being herself.
