A Venezuelan immigrant, charged with the March murder of Loyola University student Sheridan Gorman, has been found with a weapon while in custody. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office reported that staff at Cook County Jail discovered a 6-inch shank in the possession of Jose Medina.

At around 8 a.m. on Thursday, correctional officers conducted a search on the 26-year-old Medina. They recovered a sharpened piece of metal with a handle made from medical tape in his pants pocket. Following this discovery, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office approved a new felony charge against Medina for possessing contraband in a penal institution.

Medina has been held since March 23 for allegedly shooting 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman at Tobey Prinz Beach in Rogers Park on March 19. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges related to Gorman’s death and is scheduled to appear in court on June 1.

During the incident, Gorman and her friends were walking near Tobey Prinz Beach, located less than a mile from the Illinois campus, when they noticed Medina close by. Prosecutors say Gorman had spotted Medina behind a lighthouse and alerted her friends.

As Gorman and her companions tried to escape, Medina reportedly pursued them and fired, hitting Gorman in the upper back. Her friends sought shelter but returned to find Gorman unresponsive.

Surveillance footage captured Medina in his apartment building’s lobby after the shooting, waiting for an elevator without a mask. A building engineer identified him by his distinct limp and gait. Prior to this, Medina was arrested for shoplifting and released. The Department of Homeland Security disclosed that Medina was apprehended at the southern border in 2023, flagged as a flight risk, and deemed ineligible for asylum before being allowed into the U.S. under the Biden administration.

There is no record of Medina having a valid U.S. address or identification, nor could he provide a reliable point of contact.