HUFFMAN, Texas – To anyone who knows Jimmy Jordan, they know the 65-year-old loves to talk, joke around and help his community.
On Labor Day, his life almost came to an end after someone randomly shot him outside a restaurant. But he didn’t let that bullet end him, more than a month later, he’s fully healed.
“I feel so much better every day,” said Jordan from his family’s home.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office said on Labor Day around 9:50 a.m., deputies were dispatched to the Los Charros Tex-Mex Restaurant in the 11100 block of Bentley Street after someone shot a man inside his truck.
“They had the bandana on, a pistol pointed at me and shot me just like that,” explained Jordan. “They sped off and I was able to get up to go inside the restaurant and give them my phone and tell them to call 911.”
Jordan said the men didn’t say a word and he doesn’t know why he was shot.
"I called him that morning we were just talking about what's going on next thing you know I hear him say I've been shot,” said Sherilyn Hunt, Jordan’s sister.
She said she was scared and rushed to the restaurant.
Jordan was taken to Northwest Houston Medical, and remained there for four weeks.
The bullet, which is still in Jordan’s side, damaged his aorta. He said it’s a miracle he’s still alive. He also had a kidney removed and suffered a heart attack.
"You hear that you'll see the light, go to the light, I didn’t see none of that, so that light wasn't ready for me to go to it,” joked Jordan.
The Huffman man is well-known in the community. He is a Little League board member, an umpire and a coach.
Jordan has raised goats and sheep in North Houston and is a big supporter of students in FFA.
"He raises livestock out here, so it was kind of ironic for the nurse to say he's a tough old goat, he's a pretty tough old goat,” said David White, a friend of his in a prior interview with KPRC.
Jordan teared up when he thought about everyone he’s grateful for, knowing that he wouldn’t be here without his faith, the doctors, friends, family and community.
"Oh, it's real emotional, it will make you cry,” said Jordan with tears in his eyes. Because you can feel the love, you can feel their prayers.”
The suspects
Harris County authorities arrested the alleged driver, James Ryan Varnell, 28, and charged him with three counts of aggravated robbery. The accused shooter, Rolando Tomas Mendez, 27, is still at large.
"I'm worried that he'll harm somebody else and hopefully that don't happen,” said Jordan.