Officer's Gun Fired Without Pulling the Trigger? SIG Sauer Faces Major Lawsuit

A Milwaukee police officer is the latest to take legal action after his duty weapon — a SIG Sauer P320 — allegedly fired without the trigger being pulled, injuring his partner during a vehicle search. He’s not alone.

More than 100 individuals, including over 30 officers from 18 agencies, are suing SIG Sauer, claiming the P320 has a dangerous defect: it can discharge while holstered or during normal handling — even without trigger engagement.

Key Takeaways for Officers

Officer Lee’s LawsuitIn September 2022 Officer Yang Lee was searching a suspect's car when his holstered P320 discharged, striking his partner. He’s now part of a federal lawsuit pushing for a recall and compensation.

A Pattern, Not an Isolated Case This isn’t new. ICE reported 12 unintentional discharges in 18 months, with 7 resulting in injuries. Civilian courts have also ruled against SIG, including an $11 million verdict in 2024 for a veteran injured by his holstered gun.

Voluntary Upgrades Haven’t Stopped Reports SIG Sauer launched an upgrade program in 2017 after discovering drop-fire issues, but unintended discharges have continued well after fixes were introduced.

Legal and Financial Fallout Lawsuits stretch back to 2018, with class actions, negligence cases, and multiple settlements. Yet SIG has refused to issue a full recall, maintaining that the gun is safe and blaming “user error” for most incidents.

Still in Service Despite lawsuits and injuries, many agencies still carry the P320. Officers should check their department’s stance, confirm if their firearm has been upgraded, and report any irregularities immediately.