A father has been fatally beaten in front of his home after he protected his child during a middle school fight in Baltimore.

Christopher Michael Wright, 43, of Anne Arundel County, in the US state of Maryland, was attacked by three or four men said to be in their mid-20s to mid-30s, on Friday, 19th May, according to the police.

The incident reportedly took place after one of his children, unnamed, was involved in a confrontation at the Brooklyn Park Middle School, details of which were not immediately clear.

The dead dad’s family told local media that he was attacked in retaliation for the incident at the school.

Police responded to the scene and Wright was taken to hospital before passing away the next day.

The victim’s partner and the mother of his children, named in local media as Tracy Karopchinsky, said that the “world lost a light” when Wright died.

The couple’s youngest son, named as Tevin Wright, age not reported, said that his mum would often be at work and his dad took care of him every day of the week.

Tevin said: “She would usually be at work and like he would be the one person to take care of us every weekday. I would get home and I would see him, which would make me smile.”

Tracy said of her late husband: “He was a friend to everybody. I mean, just the outpour we’ve been getting from friends and just, they’re really, really gonna miss out on somebody with a really big heart. He loved beyond.”

Locals are reportedly planning to hold a vigil in honour of Christopher Wright.

The fatal beating is being investigated by the police who have asked anyone with information to contact them.

No arrests had been reported at the time of writing and the investigation is ongoing.