A Marine veteran who was paralyzed after being shot while working as a security guard was expected to testify against the man accused of attacking him in court next week. But a serious medical setback has forced him back into the hospital, his family told News Outlet.
Jimmy Friesenhahn, a combat veteran who served on multiple overseas deployments, has spent at least a week hospitalized with complications from a blood clot following surgery in August, according to his sister, Becky Borjon.
“We encountered some medical setbacks, and he’s been hospitalized for a week now,” Borjon said. “Before that, he spent three weeks in inpatient rehabilitation after undergoing surgery on Aug. 28, and things just took a turn.”
Marine Corps veteran Jimmy Friesenhahn was allegedly shot by an illegal migrant in May. (Credit: GoFundMe)
Friesenhahn was scheduled to testify in a Bexar County courtroom at the trial of Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, 29, a Honduran national accused of shooting him.
“The trial is scheduled to begin next week on the 20th,” Borjon said. “I believe they’ll start with jury selection and go from there. Jimmy was expected to appear and testify on his own behalf, and we’re still hoping he’ll be able to do that.”
Ortega was arrested after allegedly shooting Friesenhahn at El Patio Sports Bar in San Antonio on May 4, 2025. Police said Friesenhahn noticed a gun in Ortega’s pocket and attempted to prevent him from entering the establishment. A struggle followed, and Ortega allegedly fired several rounds.
Friesenhahn was hit twice in his bulletproof vest and once in the neck. The neck wound left him paralyzed and unable to speak, requiring full-time medical care.
The arrest record of Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, a 29-year-old illegal immigrant who allegedly shot a Marine veteran. (Fox News/America Reports)
Ortega faces charges of aggravated assault against a security officer and illegal entry into the United States. He also remains involved in federal immigration proceedings.
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The shooting intensified Friesenhahn’s family’s anger over Ortega’s previous criminal record in Texas. Court records show he was arrested for driving while intoxicated in October 2020 and again in August 2023 for violating probation.
He was arrested twice more for failing to appear in court, including once in November 2024.
Becky Borjon and Emmanuel Martinez (Fox News/America Reports)
“His last court appearance was in March 2025, and Jimmy was shot on May 4, 2025,” said Emmanuel Martinez, Friesenhahn’s brother-in-law. “At that point, the DA’s office should have complied with the removal orders and turned him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
Borjon raised similar concerns, asking why Ortega remained free after multiple arrests and alleged offenses.
“I’m not opposed to immigration, but there is a process in place for a reason,” Borjon said. “This man had been arrested multiple times, released on bond and never reported. He had active warrants for repeated offenses while missing court appearances.”
“Those warrants should have been acted upon, and maybe we wouldn’t be here today. This man should have been returned to his country.”
Friesenhahn’s family remains committed to seeing the case prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law as they adjust to the permanent impact of his injuries.
“Unfortunately, we don’t see this as a road to recovery because there is no recovering from an injury like this. We see it as the beginning of a lifelong fight,” Borjon said. “My brother will never walk again. He will never be able to get married or raise a family.”
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment to News Outlet about the status of the case.
