Liberals Blame Loyola Student for her own Death rather than the Illegal Immigrant who Shot Her

Summary

The 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson

Episode Title: Liberals Blame Loyola Student for Her Own Death Rather than the Illegal Immigrant who Shot Her
Date: March 25, 2026
Host: Ben Ferguson

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Episode Overview

This episode of The 47 Morning Update addresses the recent murder of Loyola University freshman Sheridan Gorman, allegedly killed by an undocumented Venezuelan immigrant in Chicago. Host Ben Ferguson sharply criticizes Democratic officials and media responses that, in his view, shift blame away from the perpetrator and toward the victim. The episode explores alleged failures in immigration policy under President Biden, the sanctuary city policies of Chicago, and contrasts them with the newly appointed Homeland Security Secretary under President Trump. Ferguson highlights similar recent crimes involving undocumented immigrants to criticize Democratic immigration stances further.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Details of the Loyola Student Shooting

• Incident Recap (03:36-06:45):

  • Sheridan Gorman, an 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago freshman, was shot and killed while with friends on a pier near campus.
  • Suspect: Jose Medina Medina, a 25-year-old Venezuelan national, previously apprehended at the southern border in May 2023, then released under the Biden Administration’s “catch and release.”
  • Medina was arrested in Chicago one month after entry for shoplifting but released again due to Illinois’s sanctuary city policies.
  • Prosecutors allege Gorman and her group unintentionally startled Medina, who then fired at Gorman as she fled; she died at the scene.

• Host Emphasis:

  • Ferguson accuses the Biden administration and sanctuary policies of direct responsibility for the tragedy, stating:

    • “Joe Biden released [an] Illegal alien [who] shot and killed Sheridan Gorman as she ran for her life…” (03:39)

  • Sympathy for victim and her family, reading from Gorman’s GoFundMe tribute:

    • “She had a way of making everyone feel special, seen, and loved. To know her was to be changed by her.” (06:16)

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2. Democratic Response and ‘Blame Shifting’

• Alderman Maria Hayden’s Statement (08:05, 09:45):

  • Local Democratic official Maria Hayden suggests the shooting was a case of “wrong place, wrong time,” stating:

    • "It sounds like this might have been a wrong place, wrong time, running into a person who had a gun. They might have startled this person at the end of the pier unintentionally…" (08:13)

  • Ferguson’s Reaction:

    • “These people are sick to blame an innocent freshman… claiming that somehow her killing, her assassination was somehow her fault… This should be put everywhere on social media.” (08:50)

• Alderman Quote Repeated:

  • “The kids were out doing normal things… they might have startled this person at the end of the pier.” (09:48)

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3. National Democratic Leadership Response

• House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ Response (10:55):
  • Asked if the suspect should be deported if convicted, Jeffries replied:
    • “I’ll look into the case.” (11:03)
  • Ferguson sharply criticizes this non-committal answer:
    • "No compassion for the family, no compassion for anyone else involved.” (11:05)

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4. Broader Immigration Enforcement Critique & Additional Cases

• Additional High-Profile Violent Crimes:

  • Details the case of Jesus Ramirez Padilla (Mexico, Utah, attempted throat-slitting, March 18) (12:00-13:48).
    • “Jesus is a dangerous criminal legal alien who violently strangled and slit a woman’s throat multiple times…” — DHS statement cited by Ferguson (13:06)
    • Emphasizes failures in honoring ICE detainers and sanctuary city issues.
  • References Abdul Leon (Fairfax County, Virginia), with “30 prior arrests," now charged with murder (14:10).

• Political Analysis:

  • Ferguson claims Democrats prioritize protecting undocumented immigrants over American citizens:
    • "Why are Democrats so committed to keeping illegal immigrants in the country? ... so willing to blame a woman allegedly shot by one of those illegals in Chicago to avoid talking about deportations." (14:43)

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5. Policy Update & Moving Forward

• Trump Administration Actions (14:50):
  • Ben Ferguson notes President Trump expedited the appointment of Marqu Mullen as Homeland Security Secretary.
    • “At least now we know we have someone at DHS… willing to go all in to protect Americans from vicious individuals just like this individual in Chicago.” (15:04)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On political priorities:
  • “They care more about one group of people, illegal immigrants, more than they do about American citizens.” — Ben Ferguson (07:13)
• On Democratic leadership response:
  • “[Jeffries]: ‘I’ll look into the case.’ That is all that the leader of the Democratic Party had to say. No compassion for the family, no compassion for anyone else involved.” — Ben Ferguson (11:05)
• On accountability:
  • "These people are sick to blame an innocent freshman 18 year old student who was spending time with her family and friends and love the Lord and claiming that somehow her killing, her assassination was somehow her fault." — Ben Ferguson (08:50)
• Alderman Hayden’s statement repeating the theme:
  • "It sounds like this might have been a wrong place, wrong time, running into a person who had a gun. They might have startled this person at the end of the pier." — Alderman Maria Hayden (08:13, 09:48)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:36 — Ferguson introduces the Loyola student shooting
• 05:15 — Details from prosecutors on how the attack unfolded
• 07:13 — Criticism of Democratic responses and priorities
• 08:05, 09:45 — Chicago Alderman Maria Hayden’s interview excerpts
• 10:55 — Ferguson plays/quotes House Democrat leader Jefferies' response, criticizes
• 12:00 — Introduction of the Utah assault case involving an undocumented immigrant
• 14:10 — Reference to the Virginia homicide case
• 14:50 — New Trump administration appointment for DHS

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Summary

Ben Ferguson uses the episode to sharply critique Democratic immigration policies and responses to violent crimes involving undocumented immigrants. He argues these policies directly led to the tragic death of Sheridan Gorman and highlights what he views as a pattern of Democratic officials minimizing or deflecting responsibility—including Alderman Hayden’s remarks and the brief, non-committal statement from Representative Jeffries. The episode rounds out with Ferguson urging the audience to share these stories, noting Trump’s expedited appointment of a new, tougher Homeland Security Secretary, and implying hope for stricter immigration enforcement moving forward.

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Note: This summary focuses solely on the substantive episode content, excluding advertisements, introduction, and closing credits.

Transcript

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[Ben Ferguson]

You're listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson.

Good Wednesday morning. Nice to have you with us on the 47 Morning Update. We've got two big stories for you. First up in Chicago, outrage growing after an innocent college student was brutally killed by an illegal immigrant released by the Biden administration. It's the 47 Morning Update and it starts right now. Story number one, Joe Biden released Illegal alien shot and killed Sheridan Gorman as she ran for her life is now what the prosecutors have said, that illegal alien was released into the United States of America on purpose by former President Joe Biden's administration. That same individual shot and killed this 18 year old, a freshman at Loyola University Chicago as she ran for her life. We now know trying to flee for safety is what the prosecutors are now alleging in documents. Now this 25 year old illegal alien from Venezuela was arrested by the Chicago Police Department and he's been charged with murdering Sheridan Gorman, who also went by sheriff in a random attack on a pier at Chicago by the Beach. Prosecutors are now providing new details as to what they say occurred on the night of March 19th. And here is part of their report. They say at 1:30am Gorman, 18, was with a group of friends on the pier a few blocks north of the university's campus. Gorman alerted her friends that someone was hiding near the pier, at which point the group of friends was chased by. The person who has been identified is Jose Medina Medina of Venezuela. Medina opened fire and shot Gorman in her back as she tried to run away. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Gorman's friends were able to duck for cover in the grassy area near the pier. As Medina ran back to an apartment on North Sheridan Road, where he had left earlier. Gorman's friends observed Medina dressed mostly in black, including a black face mask. Sheridan's friends and family have also now created a GoFundMe page to help cover the young woman's memorial service and a scholarship in her honor. Shara loved deeply and lived fully, the GoFundMe page reads. She loved Jesus, her family, her sister Maddie, most of all her lifelong friends, and the simple, beautiful moments that made up her life. She had a way of making everyone feel special, seen and loved. To know her was to be changed by her. On Sunday, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, you know, ICE agents, the same people Democrats want to abolish, revealed that Medina is an illegal alien from Venezuela who was apprehended at the southern border on May 9, 2023. Thanks to former President Joe Biden's expansive catch and release policy, Medina was released from Border Patrol custody into the US interior. One month later, on June 19, Medina was arrested in Chicago for shoplifting. Thanks to Chicago and Illinois's strict sanctuary policies, the illegal alien was released from police custody without being turned over to ICE agents for arrest and deportation. Now Medina remains in police. Castina is reportedly being treated for tuberculosis, is what the latest documents reveal. What's even more shocking about this is how far the Democrats are willing to go to claim that somehow this illegal immigrant really shouldn't be blamed for this murder. I'll give you a perfect example, because they care more about one group of people, illegal immigrants, more than they do about American citizens. Let me introduce you to Chicago Democratic 49th Ward Alderman Maria Hayden, who pretty much blames Gorman for her own murder in a local Fox interview that she's done. Listen to what she has to say about how maybe it was her fault for startling the man that assassinated her.

[Local Alderman Maria Hayden]

From what I've been told so far, right? From what police know from. From speaking to the students who were with her, it seems she might have that as they were just out, you know, people go out to the beach all the time, right? And they go out on the pier, they walk around. So the, the kids were out doing normal, normal things. People do in the neighborhood. And it sounds like this might have been a wrong place, wrong time, running into a person who had a gun. They might have startled this person at the end of the pier unintentionally, but that's, that's all we know. So it's from what I've been told, what police investigation has turned up so far, what they've been able to share with me and with Loyola University, we don't believe there is cause for broader community concern.

[Ben Ferguson]

To be clear, you have an alderman, a Democrat, that said the kids were out doing normal things people do in the neighborhood. And it sounds like they might have just been a wrong place, wrong time situation, running into a person who had a gun. They might have unintentionally startled this person at the end of the pier. That is her exact quote. These people are sick to blame an innocent freshman 18 year old student who was spending time with her family and friends and love the Lord and claiming that somehow her killing, her assassination was somehow her fault. I want you to listen to those words again. This should be put everywhere on social media. You have a student that was assassinated, and this is how the Democrats respond

[Local Alderman Maria Hayden]

all the time, right? And they go out on the pier, they walk around. So the, the kids were out doing normal, normal things people do in the neighborhood. And it sounds like this might have been a wrong place, wrong time, running into a person who had a gun. They might have startled this person at the end of the pier, unintention. But that's, that's all the time, right? And they go out.

[Ben Ferguson]

It is amazing to hear Democrats actually say that. By the way, if you think, well, that's just some local elected official and surely they don't actually mean this. Well, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, another Democrat, the leader of the Democratic Party in the House, he was asked if he believed the Venezuelan illegal alien charged with murdering Sheridan Gorman in Chicago should be deported. A very simple question. Any sane person would answer that question with, yes, of course they should be deported. Not Hakeem Jeffries. Because the Democratic Party stands up for illegal immigrants, not Americans, even when they're brutally murdered. What did Hakeem say? He said just five words. Listen carefully.

[Reporter or Interviewer]

An illegal immigrant has been charged with murdering a college student in Chicago last week. Do House Democrats believe if he's convicted, he's someone who should be deported?

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I'll look into the case.

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[Ben Ferguson]

I'll look into the case. That is all that the leader of the Democratic Party had to say. No compassion for the family, no compassion for anyone else involved. And let's be clear, it isn't just this girl that was killed in Chicago. We also have another story that is not making national news and I'll ask for your help right now sharing this story and this show wherever you can. An illegal alien from Mexico living in Utah has just been charged with attempted murder after authorities said he slit a woman's throat. Jesus Ramirez Padilla has now been charged with attempted murder, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault and drug Paraphernalia after the March 18 incident in Salt Lake City, according to the Department of Homeland Security. Immigration authorities are requesting that local officials honor a detainer lodged against the suspect. Again, this is where Democrats apparently don't like to turn over bad people to the federal government. Now, the victim is reportedly in critical condition right now in the hospital. The woman's identity has not been revealed. Jesus is a dangerous criminal legal alien who violently strangled and slit a woman's throat multiple times is what the DHS Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Biss said in a statement. We are calling on politicians to not release this barbaric criminal from jail and into American neighborhoods. This criminal legal alien has no place in American communities. According to the local reports, Padilla and the woman were smoking methamphetamine before the alleged crime. Police responded to report of a woman crying in an alley and found her bleeding with a deep cut in her neck. A homeowner surveillance camera reportedly caught the incident on camera leading to the identification of the illegal immigrant. When he was arrested, his hands and pants were covered in blood. According to the reports, he met the victim the previous night and they met up to take drugs together the night of the alleged murder attempt. Padilla also reportedly confessed to police that he strangled the victim and slit her throat, but said the drugs altered his state of mind. It's unclear whether Padilla, who remained in the Salt Lake County Jail as of Tuesday, has obtained even legal counsel. I'm sure there's some group out there that will be more than happy to represent an illegal immigrant that did this. The suspected attempted murder comes on the heels of several other high profile crimes in which illegal aliens are the prime suspect. As I mentioned earlier, the one of this student in Chicago. And in late February there was another high profile case of an alleged illegal alien crime that made national news when Abdul Leon was charged with murder and the stabbing death of Stephanie Minter in Fairfax County, Virginia. Leon, just so you know how bad his record was, had 30 prior arrests. I want to say that again, 30 prior arrests. So the final question that everyone should be asking right now is this. Why are Democrats so committed to keeping illegal immigrants in the country? And that they're so willing to blame a woman allegedly shot by one of those illegals in Chicago to avoid talking about deportations. The good news is President Donald Trump has just sworn in Marqu Mullen as the Homeland Security Secretary after it was expedited through the Senate. At least now we know that we have someone at DHS that is willing to go all in to protect Americans from vicious individuals just like this individual in Chicago.

Thank you for listening to the 47 Morning Update with Ben Ferguson. Please make sure you hit subscribe wherever you're listening to this podcast right now and for more in depth news, also subscribe to the Ben Ferguson Podcast and we will see you back here tomorrow.

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[Ben Ferguson]

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[Local Alderman Maria Hayden]

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Shoot. No.

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