A sixth-grader from West Kearns Elementary School in Utah has been charged after bringing a gun to school in order to protect himself and his friends after last Friday’s shooting in Newtown.

Two of the boy’s classmates reported the student to the teacher who immediately contacted authorities. The boy is now charged with one count of carrying a firearm on school property, three counts of aggravated assault, and for allegedly threatening some of his classmates.

The boy has repeatedly “asserted that he brought the weapon to protect himself and his friends from a ‘Connecticut-style [shooting],’” explained Granite School District spokesman Ben Horsley.

“This kid made a mistake, and he knows it,” he also added. “He feels bad about it, and his parents are cooperating with the investigation. He will not be coming back to this school.”