Jimmy Friesenhahn, a paralyzed Marine veteran shot by Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega while working as a security guard in Texas, may miss his scheduled testimony due to health issues related to a blood clot from recent surgery. Ortega, a 29-year-old Honduran national, faces charges including aggravated assault and illegal entry into the United States for allegedly shooting Friesenhahn during an altercation over a gun found in Ortega’s pocket in May 2025. Ortega’s repeated criminal offenses and court failures prior to the incident have raised questions about why he remained free and led to calls for stricter enforcement of removal orders by authorities.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-27,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jimmy Friesenhahn, a paralyzed Marine veteran who was shot while working as a security guard, was set to testify in a Bexar County courtroom against his alleged attacker, Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, a 29-year-old Honduran national, scheduled for trial on September 20. However, Friesenhahn's health deteriorated due to complications from a blood clot after an August surgery, forcing him back into the hospital at least a week prior. His sister, Becky Borjon, stated that Friesenhahn had been in rehabilitation for three weeks before his current medical setback. The veteran's family hopes he can still testify on his own behalf despite these health issues.
Written for “Paralyzed Marine Vet Shot By Migrant” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Family of paralyzed Marine vet allegedly shot by migrant speaks out as health issue could delay testimony
By
uncertain
issue → paralyze → testimony
A Marine veteran left paralyzed after being shot while working as a security guard was slated to testify against his alleged illegal immigrant attacker in court next week until a sudden, severe downturn in his health forced him back into the hospital, his family told Fox News Digital.
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family → leave → Digital
Jimmy Friesenhahn, a combat veteran with multiple overseas deployments, has been hospitalized for at least a week due to complications from a blood clot after an August surgery, according to his sister, Becky Borjon.
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Friesenhahn → hospitalize → sister
“We encountered some medical setbacks, and he’s been hospitalized for a week now,” Borjon said.
asserted
Borjon → encounter → week
“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.”
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things → follow → turn
Friesenhahn was expected to take the stand in a Bexar County courtroom during the upcoming trial of Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, 29, the Honduran national accused of shooting him.
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Friesenhahn → expect → him
“Trial is scheduled to begin next week on the 20th,” Borjon said.
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Borjon → schedule → 20th
“I believe they will start with jury selection and go from there.
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they → believe → selection
Jimmy was expected to appear and testify on his own behalf, and we are still hoping he will be able to do that.”
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he → expect → that
Police said Friesenhahn spotted a gun in Ortega’s pocket and tried to stop him from entering the venue.
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Friesenhahn → say → venue
A struggle ensued, during which Ortega allegedly fired multiple rounds.
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Ortega → ensue → rounds
Friesenhahn was struck twice in his bulletproof vest and once in the neck.
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Friesenhahn → strike → neck
The wound to his neck left him paralyzed, unable to speak and in need of full-time medical care.
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wound → leave → care
Ortega was charged with aggravated assault against a security officer and illegal entry into the United States.
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Ortega → charge → States
The shooting sparked outrage from Friesenhahn’s family, who pointed to Ortega’s extensive prior criminal record in Texas.
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who → spark → Texas
Court records show Ortega was arrested for driving while intoxicated in October 2020, followed by an August 2023 arrest for a probation violation.
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Ortega → show → violation
He was arrested two more times for failing to appear in court, including a November 2024 arrest.
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He → arrest → arrest
“His last court appearance was in March 2025, and Jimmy was shot on May 4, 2025,” said Emmanuel Martinez, Friesenhahn’s brother-in-law.
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Martinez → shoot → law
“At that point, the DA’s office should have complied with removal orders and turned him over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.”
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office → comply → Immigration
Borjon echoed those concerns, questioning why Ortega remained free despite repeated offenses.
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Ortega → echo → offenses
“I’m not opposed to immigration, but there is a process set in place for a reason,” Borjon said.
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Borjon → oppose → reason
“This guy was arrested multiple times, released on bond and never reported.
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guy → arrest → bond
He had active warrants for repeated offenses while missing court appearances.
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He → have → appearances
“Those warrants should have been acted upon, and maybe we wouldn’t be here today.
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we → act → ?
This guy should have been returned to his country.”
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guy → return → country
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.
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case → remain → injuries
“Unfortunately, we don’t see this as a road to recovery because there is no recovering from an injury like this.
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we → see → this
We see it as the beginning of a lifelong fight,” Borjon said.
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Borjon → see → fight
“My brother will never walk again.
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brother → walk → ?
He will never be able to get married or raise a family.”
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He → marry → family
The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment to Fox News Digital on the status of the case.
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Office → decline → case
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