Regardless of surviving 4 deployments in Iraq, Marine Corps veteran Jimmy Friesenhahn is dealing with his largest take a look at as a civilian.
Working as a safety guard on the entrance to El Patio Sports activities Bar in San Antonio, Texas, on Might 4, 2025, Friesenhahn was shot 4 occasions by Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz-Ortega, a crazed gunman whom Friesenhahn had denied entry to the bar as a result of he was armed.
The Marine Corps veteran practically died and was left paralyzed. He’s spent the previous 9 months recuperating from his accidents, however is aware of an extended, arduous street to restoration lies forward.
Might 4, the night time that may alter his life, began out like a typical Sunday night time. Friesenhahn was working the door on the bar when Ruiz-Ortega tried to enter. Friesenhahn patted him down, noticing he possessed a handgun.
“I discovered a gun on him and instructed him he couldn’t come within the bar with it,” Friesenhahn instructed KSAT in San Antonio.
After repeatedly telling Ruiz-Ortega that he couldn’t enter the bar with a firearm, the person tried to push previous Friesenhahn. Friesenhahn initially drew his gun, however holstered it, pondering a shootout would put patrons and bar staff in danger.
A battle ensued as Friesenhahn grappled with Ruiz-Ortega to seize the gun from him.
“As soon as I went to the bottom, he shot me within the throat after which three extra pictures,” Friesenhahn stated. “After which I blacked out.”
A bullet-proof vest prevented pictures to his chest from wounding the veteran; nonetheless, the shot Friesenhahn obtained to his throat led to paralysis. Initially, docs didn’t consider he would survive the assault.
Whereas he pulled by, the veteran confronted a number of medical setbacks. Friesenhahn’s sister, Becky Borjan, cares for him across the clock.
“It’s scary some days,” Borjan stated.
Managing appointments and Friesenhahn’s fixed healthcare wants have put monetary pressure on the household. A GoFundMe marketing campaign was set as much as help Friesenhahn with the purpose of producing $750,000. As of Jan. 28, greater than $71,000 has been raised by practically 1,000 donations.
Looking for Solutions
Members of the family stated they’re additionally struggling to get solutions from native legislation enforcement on updates to Friesenhahn’s case.
“We don’t have a solution. We don’t have a courtroom date,” Borjan stated. “We don’t know something. We don’t have an replace. We haven’t heard something from anybody.”
The Bexar County District Lawyer’s Workplace, nonetheless, disputes this declare, saying they’re assembly recurrently with Friesenhahn’s household.
“As soon as I went to the bottom, he shot me within the throat after which three extra pictures,” Friesenhahn stated. “After which I blacked out.”
“The Bexar County District Lawyer’s Workplace has had quite a few conversations, together with a house go to, with the household of Jimmy Friesenhahn all through a number of levels of this case,” the DA’s workplace stated in a press release. “Our workplace has supplied info concerning how the felony justice system features, what to anticipate at every part of the method, and well timed notification of all judicial proceedings.
As with anybody whose family members are victims of against the law, Mr. Friesenhahn’s household had questions concerning subsequent steps and potential outcomes.”
Native reporting uncovered that Ruiz-Ortega was an undocumented immigrant with a felony file in Bexar County, Texas, that included a deferred adjudication that was later thrown out. A deferred adjudication is a course of through which a defendant pleads responsible or non-contest to costs however doesn’t obtain a direct conviction.
Ruiz-Ortega’s costs within the capturing of Friesenhahn have slowed in current months, and the case was moved to a different courtroom. No trial date has been set.
“(The household) was knowledgeable that Ruiz Ortega’s cost of aggravated assault with a lethal weapon inflicting critical bodily harm carries a punishment vary of 5 to 99 years in jail,” the DA’s assertion reads. “Whereas it was defined {that a} jury may contemplate probation, the State made clear it might not search probation on this case.”
Borjan instructed KSAT she talked to a prosecutor and a sufferer’s advocate someday final yr and was knowledgeable that prosecutors had been engaged on a plea take care of the defendant. However that’s not what Friesenhahn needs. He needs a trial and the prospect to face his shooter in courtroom. He believes it’s the easiest way for him to get justice.
“Him (Ruiz-Ortega) doing life behind bars as a result of he sentenced me to this chair for all times,” Friesenhahn stated.
Nonetheless, the Bexar County DA’s Workplace instructed KSAT it’s unlikely it’s going to pursue a plea deal except Friesenhahn and his household change their minds.
“On a number of events, our workplace was requested whether or not a plea settlement could be pursued. We explicitly communicated that no plea supply could be prolonged with out first consulting with the household. Since that point, the case has been transferred to the 175th District Courtroom, and no plea supply was made previous to or after that switch.
Our prosecution workforce is diligently making ready this case for trial and is dedicated to holding the defendant accountable underneath the legislation and pursuing justice on behalf of Jimmy and his family members.”
“Him (Ruiz-Ortega) doing life behind bars as a result of he sentenced me to this chair for all times,” Friesenhahn stated.
Gradual Steps to Restoration
Friesenhahn’s essential purpose is to have the ability to use his palms once more and slowly regain extra motion, if potential.
Regardless of the tragedy, Borjan is grateful for the outpouring of assist for her brother, together with from Congressman Chip Roy, who represents Texas’ twenty first District.
“Chip Roy’s workforce has been superb,” Borjan stated. “If we want one thing and we’re not getting a response from anybody, we contact his workplace, and so they instantly will reply to me or my husband and assist type of navigate by the conditions.”
