An aspiring college student was found in possession of a 9 mm semiautomatic handgun after school officials searched his locker on a tip, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Darnell Hamilton, 17, asserts he carried the weapon in fear of the gangs that would bully him on his way to the prestigious Urban Prep Academies on the Chicago’s west side.

School officials found the gun along with a 4-inch barrel and a magazine with eight live rounds tucked in his school bag.

Hamilton, who carries a 4.0 grade point average, told police he was in fear of his life, according to a police report obtained by ibtimes.com.

Hamilton was charged with two felonies- unlawful use of a weapon and possession of a firearm in school. A judge set Hamilton’s bail at $75,000.

Hamilton’s academic accolades have earned him a scholarship to the Ohio State University. He has also expressed interest in attending either Duke University or Howard University to study computer engineering.

Urban Prep Academies is one of the premier schools in Chicago. The school has a 100 percent college acceptance rate for graduates.

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