Highlighting the tragic consequences of the illegal immigration crisis, a Marine Corps veteran and father lies paralyzed in a Texas hospital.
Jimmy Friesenhahn was shot by an illegal alien who had been arrested and released four times despite probation violations.
The 44-year-old victim was working security at a San Antonio bar when he was shot in the neck by a man who authorities now confirm entered the U.S. illegally and repeatedly evaded consequences for his crimes.
The shooting occurred outside El Patio Sports Bar in San Antonio, where Friesenhahn was working as a security guard.
When Friesenhahn confronted 29-year-old Wilmer Vladimir Ortega Ruiz, who was carrying a firearm, a physical altercation broke out after Ortega Ruiz refused to surrender the weapon.
During the confrontation, Ortega Ruiz shot Friesenhahn three times. Two bullets struck Friesenhahn’s bulletproof vest, but a third hit him in the neck, causing catastrophic injuries.
The Marine veteran suffered a complete spinal injury, a ruptured esophagus, and severe vocal cord damage. He remains in critical condition, paralyzed and fighting for his life.
Ortega Ruiz’s extensive criminal history has sparked outrage across Texas and the nation.
Records show he first encountered law enforcement in October 2020 when he was arrested for driving while intoxicated.
Instead of facing deportation, he was released on a personal recognizance bond, the first of four releases that would eventually lead to Friesenhahn’s shooting.
After his initial arrest, Ortega Ruiz demonstrated a pattern of disrespect for American law.
He repeatedly violated probation terms and failed to appear for scheduled court appearances.
Despite these flagrant violations, local authorities continued to release him back into the community, where he remained a threat to public safety.
The Friesenhahn family has publicly accused Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales of political motivations in handling this case, suggesting that lax immigration enforcement policies contributed to this tragedy.
The case has added to the national debate on border security and the handling of criminal illegal aliens.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has now placed a detainer on Ortega Ruiz, identifying him as having entered the United States illegally as a gotaway.
Gotaways are countless individuals who crossed the border undetected during the border crisis that intensified under the Biden administration’s policies.
Ortega Ruiz remains in custody with a bond set at $200,000, facing aggravated assault charges.
Still, many question why more serious charges have not been filed given the devastating, life-altering injuries inflicted on Friesenhahn, who served his country honorably as a Marine.
The incident highlights the real-world consequences of failed border policies and weak enforcement of immigration laws.
