You are connecting from Lake Geneva Public Library, please login or register to take advantage of your institution's Ground News Plan.
Published 11 hours ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago
Loyola student murder suspect found with shank in Cook County Jail: officials
Prosecutors say Jose Medina had a sharpened 6-inch metal shank in his pocket, adding a contraband charge to his murder case.
Jose Medina, 26, faces a new felony charge of possession of contraband in a penal institution after Cook County Jail correctional officers discovered a 6-inch shank in his possession on Thursday. The Cook County State's Attorney's Office approved the charge on Friday.
Medina remains in custody awaiting trial for the March 19 fatal shooting of 18-year-old Loyola University Chicago student Sheridan Gorman. He has been held since March 23 on 18 felony counts, including murder and weapons charges.
Around 8 a.m. Thursday, correctional officers searched Medina after receiving reports he possessed a weapon. They recovered a "sharpened piece of metal with a handle fashioned out of medical tape" from his pants pocket, authorities said.
Medina is scheduled to appear in court on Monday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse for his pending murder case. He previously entered a not guilty plea late last month for all counts against him.
Entering the United States in 2023 after being detained at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Venezuelan national also faces charges for possessing a pistol while unlawfully present in the country during the alleged shooting.