Witnesses say flying concrete struck staff after the round hit the sidewalk.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas — A security officer’s holstered Sig Sauer P320 discharged as he stepped out of a guard shack at USAA’s San Antonio campus on March 18, sending a round into the sidewalk and showering nearby personnel with debris, according to surveillance video and witness accounts.
The incident, recorded outside Security Gate 4, has renewed scrutiny of the P320, a striker-fired pistol at the center of ongoing lawsuits and safety disputes. USAA and Sig Sauer say internal and outside reviews found no mechanical failure. A private attorney who has litigated P320 cases says the shot was a so-called uncommanded discharge and part of a broader pattern. No life-threatening injuries were reported, but at least two staff members were struck by fragments, according to a guard who was on duty that day.
Video reviewed by station reporters shows Officer Chuck Surles stepping from the guard station shortly before the gun discharges. The bullet strikes the pavement, kicking up concrete. “After he exited, his gun just went off,” security guard Matthew Gill said in an interview. Gill said he felt a burn across his face from flying grit, and a supervisor nearby was nicked by a small piece of metal. The discharge paused gate operations while supervisors gathered statements and reviewed the security feed. The campus remained open, and responding personnel confirmed no additional threats on the property.
In a written statement, USAA said safety is its top priority and that two unintentional discharges under review were examined by the manufacturer, a forensic laboratory, and the company. Those reviews “found no evidence of a mechanical failure” in either case, the statement said. Sig Sauer said the P320 “can only fire when the trigger is pulled” and that the company stands behind USAA’s findings. Attorney Jeff Bagnell, who has represented multiple plaintiffs in P320 cases, disputed those conclusions. “Knowing the history of this gun, it’s highly unlikely these officers pulled the trigger while the gun was fully holstered,” Bagnell said. He said reports alleging uncommanded discharges have surfaced in dozens of states and include trained law enforcement users. The officer at the gate did not require hospitalization, according to people familiar with the response. The precise cause of the discharge remains under review.
Gill said he was warned about the sidearm’s record when he joined the guard force. He cited a 2021 injury to another officer and a separate discharge at a range in September. Across Texas, some departments have reevaluated equipment policies involving the pistol, even as others continue to carry the platform after factory “upgrade” programs. Nationally, the P320 has been the subject of civil verdicts and appeals. A jury in Philadelphia last year awarded damages to a man injured when a holstered P320 discharged, and an appellate court this summer allowed another case to proceed over expert testimony on the gun’s design. In October, a state lawsuit in New Jersey alleged the pistol could fire without a trigger pull and sought restrictions within that state. Sig Sauer has consistently defended the model as safe when used as designed.
Procedurally, workplace incidents involving firearms typically trigger employer reviews, manufacturer consultations, and, when applicable, insurance notifications. USAA said both pistols in question were inspected by independent experts and by Sig Sauer before those findings were shared with the company. The guard station video is expected to factor into any final report, along with statements collected from the shift. If additional agency reports are generated, they could clarify whether any parts, holsters, or handling contributed. As of Tuesday, no criminal charges had been announced, and no recall related to the campus incident had been issued. Any employment decisions tied to the episode would follow internal processes that are generally confidential under company policy.
On scene after the shot, guards swept the sidewalk and marked the divot where the round hit. Dust clung to the windowsill of the shack. “Fix it,” Gill said of the weapon system. “It’s a good weapon, but it’s faulty.” A passerby in a sedan paused at the lowered arm, asking if the gate was closed. “We’re good,” a guard replied, waving traffic through once supervisors cleared the lane. By late afternoon, the checkpoint returned to routine ID checks, with officers rotating on and off the post as the shift changed.
As of Nov. 25, the company’s position and the manufacturer’s statement remain unchanged while reviews continue. Any further public updates are expected after final assessments of the gun, holster, and video are complete.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 25, 2025.