Raleigh, NC — The manhunt for the suspect who killed a Wake County deputy who responded to a call Thursday continues into Friday night. Deputy Ned Byrd, 48, was found dead around 1 a.m. along an area of Battle Bridge Road with open fields on either side. He had been shot multiple times and officials believe he was killed about two hours before he was found. It was all hands on deck on that stretch of road in southeast Wake County for nearly 24 hours straight. Authorities are still actively searching for the person who fired the shots that killed Byrd. WRAL News cameras captured deputies escorting the lawmaker’s body from the scene. A series of calls Thursday night brought Byrd and his K-9 partner to the scene, according to Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker. “We believe he may have made contact with someone and got out of their car to check on them and check on the suspicious activity,” Baker said. Byrd’s K-9, named Sasha, was still inside the vehicle, which Baker says suggests Byrd may not have seen what he was initially facing as much of a threat since he didn’t need his companion. Baker says Byrd also didn’t ask for backup. “So again, that allows us to understand that he didn’t feel the need for support,” he said. Byrd didn’t get on the radio to let anyone know he was getting out of his vehicle to investigate, according to investigators. He also did not radio for help after being shot. Deputies only came to the scene after Byrd was unresponsive long enough that they decided to check on his welfare. Baker says he thinks Byrd may have been caught off guard by whoever shot him. The massive manhunt for the shooter continues, with dozens of officers stationed along Battle Bridge Road near Auburn Knightdale Road and River Ridge Golf Club. Baker says they’re following leads – looking for a man who may be driving a white truck. Investigators comb the fields, using ATVs and a helicopter – looking for clues that could help them piece together Byrd’s final moments. He was not wearing a body camera, but there is dash cam footage from the vehicle, as well as a nearby gas station surveillance camera, that authorities are using to help with the investigation. “We will find who is responsible for this loss, even in the midst of the hurt and pain,” Baker said.
Deputy Ned Byrd: I loved serving and protecting
According to Byrd’s friends, becoming a deputy was his dream. Byrd was a 13-year veteran of the Wake County Sheriff’s Office. He served as a member of the K-9 unit for approximately 5 years. Prior to that, he worked as a longtime detention officer in Wake County. Baker described Byrd as “very committed and dedicated.” “He loves to serve and protect his county,” Baker said. “He was always in a good mood and spirit.” Friends remember him as someone who loved fitness, including mountain biking, weightlifting and martial arts. He trained regularly at Cary Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. Jason Culbreth, the owner of the gym, was one of Byrd’s best friends. “He came in, and of course we loved him right away,” Culbreth said. While Byrd had no relatives in the area, Culbreth says they were like brothers. “He was family to me and my wife. He came for holidays, birthday parties. Every celebration we had, he was a part of,” Culbreth said. Culbreth describes him as caring and willing to serve others. “He was known for just putting so much into what he was doing or being committed to helping everybody. If somebody was moving or needed something, needed something built, some furniture needed to be moved, he was always the first person to volunteer and be there ,” Culbreth recalled. “You would never find a better man to serve others.” This servant’s heart is what drew him to law enforcement — first as a detention officer and then, after years of hard work, he achieved his dream of becoming a deputy. “He took his job very seriously. He was a good cop. One of those guys who was there for the community,” Culbreth said. Culbreth was stunned to learn from friends that Byrd had been killed. “He was the pinnacle of fitness, being able to take care of himself. He was very active,” she said. “More than capable of taking care of himself. Whatever happened, he was really out of nowhere.” He finds some comfort in knowing that Deputy Byrd died doing what he loved. “It’s how people wish more people in society were,” he said. “It’s a shame to lose someone like that.”
