Attorneys for a Colorado town council member accused of shooting a 17-year-old boy in the face say the gun is to blame, not their client. David Jones and co-counsel Chris Decker represent Brent Metz, 39, a former town council member in the town of Mountain View, Colorado.
Metz is charged with second-degree assault, illegal discharge of a firearm and two counts of felony menacing after allegedly shooting a teen boy in September 2024. The teen was shot while sitting in a vehicle on a public roadway close to Metz’s house. The teen survived.
Jones and Decker spoke to CBS Colorado, saying Metz is “absolutely sorry” for what happened.
“It was a complete mistake. It was an unintentional firing of his weapon,” Jones said.
Defense points to faulty firearm
The defense team plans to argue Metz’s gun, a Sig Sauer P320, was faulty and misfired. Straight Arrow News reported in February 2025 that training facilities run by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) banned the Sig Sauer P320 from being used by either law enforcement officers or civilians.
The executive director of the training commission, Monica Alexander, told KING 5 News that the P320 can fire without anyone pulling the trigger.
The training commission launched an investigation into the popular handgun after a police recruit’s firearm “discharged while drawing, without their finger on the trigger, injuring an instructor and another recruit,” a communications manager for the training commission told local newspaper My Northwest.
The P320 has been linked to more than 100 lawsuits from civilians and officers, claiming the handguns fired without pulling the trigger, New Hampshire Public Radio reported.
Attorneys reference similar incidents
Metz’ attorneys plan to use the same argument in his defense.
“The facts as we understand them are he was drawing it from his truck to place it on his hip, as he was turning, the weapon went off,” Decker said in the interview with CBS Colorado. “There are a number of circumstances well documented where these weapons are going off without the intent or physical interaction of the person holding it,” Decker said. “Should there be responsibility? Absolutely. And we feel that should fall on Sig Sauer.”
Company denies defect claims
Sig Sauer has not commented on Metz’s case. However, the company posted a statement on its website in 2024.
“Contrary to prior reporting, claims that the P320 is capable of firing without a trigger pull are without merit and have been soundly rejected as a matter of law by thirteen separate courts, including a unanimous jury verdict in Sig Sauer’s favor,” the statement said. “The P320 is trusted by the U.S. military, law enforcement professionals, and responsible citizens worldwide. Sig Sauer is extremely proud of our outstanding safety record and quality firearms.”
Metz was recalled in a special election Tuesday, May 20. His next court date is scheduled for June.
