Paralyzed Marine, Family Wait for Justice as Bar Shooting Case Stalls

A former United States Marine who became paralyzed following a bar shooting is still waiting for his day in court, even as prosecutors said they are preparing to take the case to trial.

Jimmy Friesenhahn, a Marine Corps veteran, was shot while working security outside El Patio Sports Bar in San Antonio, Texas, on May 4, 2025, according to police and court records. Wilmer Vladimir Ruiz Ortega, the man accused of shooting him, faces felony charges in Bexar County’s 175th Criminal District Court. However, no trial date has been posted months later, even as prosecutors said the case remains active.

Friesenhahn served multiple combat tours as a Marine and was working private security when the shooting occurred. His injuries left him permanently paralyzed, requiring full-time care and ending his ability to work. The severity of those injuries, combined with the time elapsed since the shooting, has sharpened scrutiny on how quickly cases involving catastrophic harm move through local court systems—including situations where victims and families seeking closure face years of legal complexity.

Similar delays have surfaced in other high-profile cases involving catastrophic injuries, including situations where families of shooting victims spent years navigating accountability and court proceedings while awaiting resolution.

Quick Escalation

Friesenhahn was working security at the entrance to El Patio Sports Bar when Ortega allegedly attempted to enter the establishment while armed. Friesenhahn stopped him at the door, which according to  law enforcement accounts triggered a confrontation outside the bar.

The encounter escalated quickly. Ortega opened fire, hitting Friesenhahn multiple times—including in the neck. The injuries left the former Marine paralyzed, abruptly ending his ability to work while forcing a permanent change in daily life.

Friesenhahn survived the shooting but now requires full-time care, relying on family members for daily support as he waits for the criminal case to move forward.

San Antonio Police responded to the scene and conducted the initial investigation, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confirmed, noting that sheriff’s deputies were not the investigating agency in the case.

The Texas Department of Public Safety acknowledged receiving a request for comment but did not provide case-specific information, indicating the agency did not play a direct role.

Military.com reached out for comment to the San Antonio Police Department and Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.

Prosecutors 'Diligently Preparing' For Trial

The Bexar County District Attorney’s Office said prosecutors have remained in regular contact with Friesenhahn and his family throughout the case, emphasizing that no deals on Ortega's behalf have been discussed or negotiated.

“At this time no plea agreement has been discussed or offered, and none will be considered without first consulting Mr. Friesenhahn’s family,” a spokesperson for the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office told Military.com. “Our prosecution team is diligently preparing this case for trial. We remain fully committed to holding the defendant accountable under the law and to pursuing justice for Jimmy and his loved ones.”

Prosecutors said they have met with the family at multiple stages of the case, including a home visit, and have walked them through how the criminal justice process works, what to expect as the case moves forward and how trial scheduling decisions are handled.

The district attorney’s office said court calendars and hearing dates are set by the judge, not prosecutors, and that because the case remains pending, it could not provide additional details without risking the integrity and fairness of the proceedings.

Family Presses for Trial

Friesenhahn’s family has said they want the case to be heard by a jury rather than resolved through a negotiated plea agreement, arguing that the severity of his injuries and the lasting impact on his life warrant full accountability in open court.

Family members have said Friesenhahn’s paralysis has permanently altered his independence, employment and daily routine. A jury trial is the only way they believe the case can be fully examined.

County officials said decisions about trial scheduling rest with the court, not prosecutors. Requests for updated filings and potential hearing dates have been directed to the courthouse clerk, where no trial date has yet been posted.

The case remains assigned to Bexar County’s 175th Criminal District Court, where prosecutors said they are preparing for trial. No court date has been publicly posted.