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A decorated U.S. Marine and Army veteran who survived multiple deployments overseas is now fighting a different kind of battle after being shot and paralyzed while working as a security officer at a South Side bar in May. The veteran, Jimmy Friesenhahn, 44, was critically wounded during a confrontation, and the incident has since cast a harsh spotlight on the suspect’s prior criminal history and his status in the country.
The shooting occurred on the night of Saturday, May 3, 2025, at El Patio Sports Bar on Frio City Road. According to the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County court records, Friesenhahn was conducting a routine pat down of a man attempting to enter the establishment. Upon discovering a handgun, a struggle ensued, during which the suspect, identified as Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz-Ortega, allegedly shot Friesenhahn three times. While two of the bullets were stopped by Friesenhahn’s bulletproof vest, a third struck him in the neck, severing his spinal cord and leaving him paralyzed. The veteran, who dedicated years of his life to serving his country, was rushed to Brooke Army Medical Center for intensive care.
Ruiz-Ortega, 25, was arrested at the scene. He faces a first-degree felony charge of aggravated assault against a security officer. His bond for this state charge was initially set at $250,000 but was later increased to $1 million after prosecutors highlighted his prior arrests and argued he posed a significant flight risk and danger to the community. He remains in the Bexar County Jail on this charge.
Court records reveal that Ruiz-Ortega had been arrested twice before in Bexar County in the year prior to the shooting. In July 2024, he was charged with unlawful carrying of a weapon, and in January 2025, he faced a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Both previous charges were reportedly dismissed, but at present it has not been made clear why.
The case has also drawn federal attention. Following his arrest for the shooting, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) placed a detainer on Ruiz-Ortega, and he has since been federally charged with one count of possession of a firearm by an alien unlawfully present in the United States. He is being held without bond on this separate federal charge. Ortega’s immigrant status would mean more from Federal authorities if that fact had been handled during his previous arrests, however, and this is Texas of all places. To take them at their word, two agencies failed and Friesenhahn paid the price, but veterans have become sadly accustomed to the government failing to uphold their responsibilities.
Friesenhahn's family has been vocal about their ordeal, advocating for justice and questioning how the suspect was released following his previous arrests. The San Antonio community has rallied in support of the wounded veteran, who now faces a lifetime of challenges as a result of the violent encounter. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers security officers face and has ignited a broader conversation about accountability within the local justice system.
