Christopher Kernich

Christopher Kernich (SARA SYROKA / November 22, 2009)

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KENT, Ohio - Fox 8 News has learned that a Kent State student who had been hospitalized in critical condition after a brutal attack, has died.

According to the Kent State Police Department, Chris Kernich passed away around 4:30 p.m. Saturday, at Akron City Hospital.

Police say the 23-year-old the was walking home on East Main Street with two friends early Sunday morning, when they were nearly run over by a car.

Witnesses say one of the students yelled to the driver "watch what you're doing".

Police say the car then pulled ahead of Chris Kernich and his friends, and two men, 20-year-old Ronald Kelly and 21-year-old Adrian Barker jumped out and began beating the three students.

Members of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity saw what was happening and tried to help Kernich and his friends.

Kent State Senior Shawn Mullins says "this kid ended up getting beaten up and then they started stomping him in the street and he was by himself really."

By the time the members of the fraternity got to Chris Kernich's side, he was laying in the street.

Mullins says "it didn't look like he was breathing whatsoever and his body was like limp so we had to physically pick up out of the street."

While a couple of the fraternity brothers summoned medical attention for Chris Kernich, the others kept Ronald Kelly and Adrian Barker from fleeing until Kent Police arrived.

But they almost ended up being victims themselves.

Shawn Mullins says "when we chased the kid off, they tried to hit us, the guy, he came out from a driveway over here somewhere and he tried to hit us with the car too."

On a Facebook page created for Chris Kernich, hundreds of his friends and relatives have sent messages of support.

Friends say Chris suffered a severe head injury from a kick to the head, resulting in swelling on his brain.

His fellow students at Kent State say the attack on Kernich was a complete overreaction, and in their minds unprovoked.

Shawn Mullins says, "Just to make a comment like that which most people would overlook but to have somebody that's that aggressive, that's just going to jump out and try to do something that's that serious to you, it's I don't know, it's kind of scary."

Kent Police say Kelly and Barker have been charged with felonious assault. They are being held in the Portage County Jail.

No other information is being released at this time.

Kent State University President Lester A. Lefton has issued a statement regarding Kernich's death. It reads:

"The university community is deeply saddened to learn about the untimely death of one of our students. Christopher Kernich, a junior studying pre-business management, has died at the age of 23. The entire Kent State community sends our heartfelt condolences to Chris family. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. Losing a loved one is never easy, particularly if it is a result of a senseless tragedy.Chris death is a tragic reminder that violence, whether provoked or unprovoked-regardless of the reason, is never the answer. May we learn something from this incident, for our own sake and in Chris memory."

Stay with Fox 8 News for updates on this story.