A Kansas University student who died last week was the victim of an accidental shooting, authorities said.

Christopher Martell, 18, was found dead in his car Thursday in Kansas City, Kan., where he was from. He was a freshman at KU enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering. He was lived in McCollum Hall.

Martell bled to death after accidentally shooting himself in the leg, authorities said. His father, Miguel Martell, said he was told that Christopher probably bled to death soon after a bullet struck a main artery in his leg, possibly late Wednesday. Police said Monday the death had been ruled an accident.

Miguel Martell said the family wasn’t sure why Christopher was in the Kansas City area, but he might have been giving someone a ride home. He said he was not aware that his son owned a gun, but Christopher’s friends said he kept the gun in the glove compartment of his car for protection.

Funeral services for Martell are scheduled for 10 a.m. today at St. John the Evangelist Church in Kansas City, Kan.

KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway issued a statement on Martell’s death.

“On behalf of the entire KU community, I want to express my profound sorrow at the death of Christopher Martell,” Hemenway said. “We are filled with great sadness at the word of this tragic loss of such a bright young man, and we offer our condolences to his family and friends.”