Family of paralyzed Marine vet allegedly shot by migrant speaks out as health issue could delay testimony
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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.
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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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