A 44-year-old Marine Corps veteran who survived multiple deployments, including to Iraq, now fights for his life after being shot while working as a security guard.
According to the New York Post, Jimmy Friesenhahn was allegedly shot by an illegal immigrant who had been arrested and released four previous times in San Antonio.
The incident occurred at El Patio Sports Bar, where Friesenhahn, working security, spotted a man apparently carrying a concealed handgun. When he attempted to confiscate the weapon, the customer—identified as Wilmer Vladmir Ortega Ruiz, 29—allegedly refused to surrender it, resulting in a struggle that ended with Friesenhahn being shot three times.
Devastating injuries and ongoing battle
Friesenhahn sustained gunshot wounds twice to his bulletproof vest and once through his neck. The neck wound caused severe damage, leaving the veteran with a spinal injury, ruptured esophagus, and damaged vocal cords that have left him unable to speak.
The father of a 5-month-old daughter has undergone six surgeries and remains in critical condition. His brother-in-law Emmanuel Martinez told reporters that the prognosis has worsened as Friesenhahn continues fighting for survival.
Martinez credited his brother-in-law's actions with potentially saving lives at the establishment. "Jimmy's sacrifice saved people because there's stories that the guy was going to go inside and do something in that place," he said in an emotional interview.
History of arrests and releases
Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed a detainer on Ortega Ruiz on May 4 following the shooting. However, this wasn't his first encounter with law enforcement in the San Antonio area.
Court records reveal Ortega Ruiz's first arrest occurred in October 2020 on DWI charges. He was released on a personal recognizance bond but failed to appear for his court date. The Bexar County District Attorney's Office subsequently downgraded the charge to obstructing a passageway.
After pleading guilty to the lesser charge, Ortega Ruiz violated probation terms and was arrested again in August 2023. Released after posting a $1,500 bond, he once more failed to appear for his scheduled hearing. Two more arrests followed—in September 2023 and November 2024—with similar patterns of release and failure to appear.
Family outrage over charging decision
The district attorney's office has pursued aggravated assault charges against Ortega Ruiz for the shooting, setting bond at $200,000. This decision has provoked outrage from Friesenhahn's family, who believe the charges are insufficient given the severity of the attack.
Friesenhahn's sister, Evangelina Borjon, tearfully expressed her frustration with the prosecution's approach. "That's attempted murder, that's not aggravated assault," she stated, characterizing the decision as "a huge slap in the face."
Martinez echoed these sentiments, criticizing the entire local justice system. "It's ridiculous the way the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, the DA, the Bexar County judges, the whole justice system here is not caring and letting this guy off time after time," he said.
Veteran's life hangs in balance
Friesenhahn served 14 years in the Marine Corps, including deployments overseas and to Iraq, only to face life-threatening danger while working as a security guard in Texas. His confrontation with Ortega Ruiz has left him paralyzed and unable to communicate as he fights to survive multiple surgeries.
Law enforcement sources indicated Ortega Ruiz entered the country as a "got-away," meaning he evaded border authorities when crossing into the United States. In addition to his previous arrests, he was allegedly involved in a domestic violence incident where his girlfriend reported he physically attacked her, but he had fled before police arrived.
The Bexar County District Attorney's Office did not respond to requests for comment about their handling of either Ortega Ruiz's previous cases or the current charges related to the shooting of Friesenhahn.
