Two men taken into custody in Burke County for questioning in investigation of killed Wake County deputy

Investigators are ramping up efforts to pinpoint the killer of a Wake County deputy.

Sources tell WRAL News two men brought in for questioning Tuesday in Burke County are connected to the case.

The U.S. Marshals Service took two men into custody in Burke County, more than 150 miles west of Raleigh, for questioning in the investigation into the killing of a Wake County deputy, sources say.

WSOC-TV reported that the North Carolina State Highway Patrol pulled over two men during two separate traffic stops on Tuesday afternoon along Interstate 40. The station reported that federal marshals took the two men into custody.

Both had little to say when questioned by local reporters.

"SBI is requesting assistance in stopping a suspect, actually two suspect, vehicles from the Wake deputy, scanner traffic from Broadcastify said.

"They are both believed to be suspects," scanner traffic went on to say.

On Tuesday, the Wake County Sheriff's Office released a statement.

“These individuals have been arrested on federal detainers unrelated to the Byrd homicide,” said Wake County Chief Legal Advisor Rick Brown wrote in part. “The investigation is at a sensitive point."

The sheriff's office is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the person or persons responsible for Byrd's death.

Eddie Caldwell with the North Carolina Sheriff's Association said the decision-making in these types of investigations can be complex.

"It really is all hands on deck until the case is solved," said Caldwell. Criminal investigations are often like a big puzzle, putting all the pieces together ... if they have legal grounds for holding them, they will, and if they don’t, of course they won’t. I’m sure that decision was not made lightly and not made haphazardly.”

Caldwell says local, state, and federal agencies all play important roles in seeing that justice is done for Byrd.

"Each of these different agencies has different expertise, whereas the sheriff’s office has a lot of connections in the community and has boots on the ground," said Caldwell. "Then there are other resources that each agency brings to the investigation."

WRAL News has also contacted the U.S. Marshals Service with a request for comment.

The sheriff's office said the truck is similar to a Chevrolet Colorado or a GMC Canyon.

Byrd's funeral will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Providence Baptist Church at 6339 Glenwood Ave. Raleigh

Police Department will shut down Glenwood Avenue beginning at 10:30 a.m. Shortly after the road closure, Byrd's casket will be placed on a Caisson led by State Highway Patrol's Caisson Unit and will go to Providence Baptist Church. Members of the sheriff's office will serve as pallbearers.

Following the service, law enforcement will follow the hearse carrying Byrd's remains to Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 300 Saint Mary's St.