ST. PAUL — A student who brought a loaded gun to his high school in St. Paul told police he was trying to protect himself from gang members.

The 16-year-old boy pleaded guilty Thursday in juvenile court to felony possession of a dangerous weapon on school property. The teen’s backpack was searched at Harding High School Wednesday when the .22-caliber gun was found.

School officials say there’s no sign the teen planned to use the gun in school. A police check showed the gun had been reported as stolen from Green Bay, Wisconsin.