A year after his death, Wake Deputy Ned Byrd remembered as dedicated, driven
Friday marks one year since Wake County Sheriff's Deputy Ned Byrd was killed while on duty.
Byrd, 48, was shot late in the evening on Aug. 11, 2022. He was on his way to K-9 training when he pulled over to investigate a truck on the side of Battle Bridge Road in southeastern Wake County.
Byrd pulled up to the truck, leaving his K-9, Sasha, in the car. He was shot four times, including three shots to the back of the head, and died on the road.
On Friday, before law enforcement honored Byrd in a private ceremony, WRAL News spoke with Byrd's direct supervisor, Sgt. Jason Bordeaux.
"I thought it was a dream at first ... more like a nightmare," said Bordeaux, who on that night woke to the unimaginable. "He was a really good guy, and [for] this to happen to him was unfair. He was gonna be there for you no matter what. He would take the shirt off his back and give it to you."
Bordeaux said he had not spoken publicly about Byrd's death since it happened.
"Me and Ned spent a lot of time together," he said. "Four months is a long time, every day, training together ... it's difficult."
Six law enforcement agencies came together Friday morning for a group run in the area of Battle Bridge Road where Byrd lost his life. Byrd's sister and uncle were also in attendance.
"Today felt good coming together to memorialize him. He would enjoy doing it," Bordeaux said.
Byrd's K-9, Sasha, was in the car with him the night he died. Sasha has since retired from the sheriff's office and spends her days laying around the house and enjoying her freedom, Bordeaux said.
"He took her everywhere. He loved the dog," Bordeaux added.
Byrd's funeral was held a week after his death. K-9 Sasha walked along Glenwood Avenue with a handler and led a horse caisson carrying Byrd's casket to his funeral at Providence Baptist Church, where hundreds of people stood outside waiting.
Law enforcement officers and citizens, both those who knew Byrd and those who were strangers, gathered along Glenwood Avenue to watch and pay their respects. One family standing for the procession said Byrd once responded to their home on a call.
"We just wanted to honor him," said Will Sutthill. "He was a great guy. Nice guy. Very kind. Very compassionate. And you know he really cared."
Former Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker spoke at Byrd's funeral, saying, "On that night when we got to the scene, we kneeled down beside him, and I promised him that we would find those responsible."
Jason Culbreth, Byrd's jiu-jitsu coach and CrossFit trainer, said at the funeral, "Ned was like our kid," commenting on his physical and emotional strength.
"He had a grit and determination like no one I have ever met," Culbreth said.
Brothers Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo, 25, and Arturo Marin-Sotelo, 29, were charged with Byrd's murder.
In May, the younger brother escaped a jail in Virginia. He was on the run for about four days and was captured in Mexico. Adriana Marin Sotelo, his sister, recently pleaded guilty to helping him break out of the jail.
Arturo Marin-Sotelo remains in the Wake County jail. Alder Marin-Sotelo is still in Mexico, not yet extradited after escaping the Virginia prison.
Weekend events honoring Deputy Ned Byrd
Memorial events will be held on Aug. 12 and 13 in Byrd's honor, including a free Brazilian jiu-jitsu and self-defense seminar at PNC Arena and a CrossFit workout in Raleigh.
