(RALEIGH) -- Friends of N.C. State University graduate Chris Hondros are mourning his untimely death while covering a battle in Libya. Bill Holmes worked with Hondros at NCSU's student newspaper, The Technician, and said Hondros spent his career shooting photos in dangerous war zones.

"A lot of us who followed Chris' career over the years knew that he was in a lot of dangerous places.  Not having experienced that ourselves we knew there was an element of danger, but I think some of us were surprised to find out just how close he was, how in danger he was," said Holmes.

Hondros came under fire during a battle between rebels and government troops in Misrata when he was killed Wednesday. He and documentary photographer Tim Hetherington were both killed.