Jimmy Friesenhahn, a Marine veteran left paralyzed after being shot while working as a security guard, has been hospitalized due to complications from a blood clot after an August surgery. His sister, Becky Borjon, said that Friesenhahn has been hospitalized for at least a week and was previously in inpatient rehab for three weeks following the surgery.
Friesenhahn was expected to testify against his alleged attacker, Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, in a Bexar County courtroom next week. Ortega, a 29-year-old Honduran national, is accused of shooting Friesenhahn at El Patio Sports Bar in San Antonio on May 4, 2025. Friesenhahn spotted a gun in Ortega's pocket and tried to stop him from entering the venue, leading to a struggle during which Ortega allegedly fired multiple rounds.
Friesenhahn was struck twice in his bulletproof vest and once in the neck, leaving him paralyzed and in need of full-time medical care. Ortega was charged with aggravated assault against a security officer and illegal entry into the United States, and is also the subject of federal immigration proceedings. His extensive prior criminal record in Texas has sparked outrage from Friesenhahn's family, who pointed to Ortega's multiple arrests and failed court appearances.
Borjon expressed concerns about why Ortega remained free despite repeated offenses, and questioned why the DA's office did not comply with removal orders and turn him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement after his last court appearance in March 2025. The Bexar County District Attorney's Office declined to comment on the status of the case.
Friesenhahn's family remains determined to see the case prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, while coming to terms with the reality of his life-altering injuries.
NTC Report coverage is based on reporting from the original publisher.
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