Jimmy Friesenhahn, a Marine combat veteran left paralyzed after being shot while working security at a San Antonio bar, has been hospitalized for at least a week following complications from a blood clot, putting in doubt whether he can testify next week against the man accused of shooting him.
His sister, Becky Borjon, told Fox News Digital that Friesenhahn had surgery on Aug. 28 and spent three weeks in inpatient rehabilitation before his condition suddenly worsened.
“We encountered some medical setbacks, and he’s been hospitalized for a week now,” Borjon said. “Prior to that, he was in inpatient rehab for three weeks following a surgery he had on Aug. 28, and things just kind of took a turn.”
Friesenhahn was scheduled to testify in a Bexar County courtroom in the trial of Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, 29, a Honduran national accused of shooting him. Borjon said the trial is set to begin next week with jury selection.
“Jimmy was expected to appear and testify on his own behalf, and we are still hoping he will be able to do that,” Borjon said.
Ortega was arrested after allegedly shooting Friesenhahn at El Patio Sports Bar in San Antonio on May 4, 2025. According to police, Friesenhahn noticed a gun in Ortega’s pocket and tried to stop him from entering the venue. A struggle followed, during which Ortega allegedly fired multiple rounds.
Friesenhahn was struck twice in his bulletproof vest and once in the neck. The neck wound left him paralyzed, unable to speak, and dependent on full-time medical care.
Ortega faces charges of aggravated assault against a security officer and illegal entry into the United States, and is also subject to federal immigration proceedings.
A Record of Missed Court Dates
Court records show Ortega had multiple prior brushes with the law in Texas before the shooting. He was arrested for driving while intoxicated in October 2020 and for a probation violation in August 2023. He was arrested twice more for failing to appear in court, most recently in November 2024.
Emmanuel Martinez, Friesenhahn’s brother-in-law, said Ortega’s last court appearance came in March 2025 — just two months before the shooting.
“His last court appearance was in March 2025, and Jimmy was shot on May 4, 2025,” Martinez said. “At that point, the DA’s office should have complied with removal orders and turned him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
Borjon said she supports lawful immigration but believes the system failed her brother.
“I’m not opposed to immigration, but there is a process set in place for a reason,” Borjon said. “This guy was 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 guy should have been returned to his country.”
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the status of the case.
“A Lifelong Fight”
Friesenhahn’s family says they are focused on seeing the case prosecuted fully while adjusting to the permanence 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.”
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