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…