Marine Veteran’s Health Declines Before Trial Against Alleged Attacker
A Marine veteran, who was left paralyzed after being shot while working as a security guard, was scheduled to testify against his accused attacker, an alleged illegal immigrant, in court next week. However, his family has reported that a sudden decline in his health has necessitated another hospital stay.
Jimmy Friesenhahn, a combat veteran with several tours of duty, has been hospitalized for over a week due to complications related to a blood clot following surgery in August, as shared by his sister, Becky Borjon.
“We ran into some medical issues, and he’s been in the hospital for a week now,” Borjon explained. “Before this, he was in rehab for about three weeks after surgery on August 28, but then things took a downturn.”
Friesenhahn was meant to take the stand in a Bexar County court during the trial of Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, a 29-year-old Honduran national accused of shooting him.
Ortega was apprehended after allegedly shooting Friesenhahn at El Patio Sports Bar in San Antonio on May 4, 2025. Authorities reported that Friesenhahn noticed a gun in Ortega’s pocket and attempted to stop him from entering the bar, which led to a confrontation where Ortega allegedly fired several shots.
Friesenhahn was hit twice in his bulletproof vest and once in the neck. The injury to his neck resulted in paralysis, leaving him unable to speak and in need of full-time medical assistance.
Ortega faces charges of aggravated assault against a security officer and illegal entry into the United States, and he is also involved in federal immigration proceedings.
The incident has caused distress for Friesenhahn’s family, particularly in light of Ortega’s extensive criminal history in Texas. Records indicate that Ortega was arrested for driving while intoxicated in October 2020 and faced further charges in August 2023 for a probation violation.
Moreover, he had additional arrests for failing to appear in court, including one in November 2024.
“His last court appearance was back in March 2025, and Jimmy was shot in May,” noted Emmanuel Martinez, Friesenhahn’s brother-in-law. “At that time, the DA’s office should have adhered to removal orders and handed him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
Borjon reiterated these concerns, questioning why Ortega remained at large, despite his record of offenses.
“I don’t oppose immigration, but there’s a process for a reason,” she remarked. “This guy was arrested multiple times, released on bond, and no one reported him. He had active warrants for repeat offenses while skipping court dates.”
“If those warrants had been acted upon, maybe we wouldn’t be in this situation. He should have been sent back.”
Friesenhahn’s family is determined to pursue the case to the fullest extent of the law while grappling with the severity of his injuries.
“Unfortunately, we don’t see any path to recovery. This is the beginning of a lifelong struggle,” Borjon expressed. “My brother will never walk again. He will never get married or start a family.”
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office has opted not to comment on the status of the case.
