Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Ned Byrd was shot and killed while on patrol shortly after 11:00 pm.
Deputy Byrd was shot multiple times after he exited his vehicle at the intersection of Battle Bridge Road and Auburn-Knightdale Road while investigating suspicious activity. He was in the area after the agency had received several calls regarding the activity; however, he had not marked out on an event when he was shot.
Another deputy located him approximately two hours later with his gun still in his holster. He had been shot three times in the chest and another three times in his head. Deputy Byrd's canine partner was still inside their patrol vehicle.
The subject, 29, and his brother, 25, both in the country illegally, were arrested one week later and charged with Deputy Byrd's murder. Both had been deported years before. On April 30, 2023, the shooter escaped from the Piedmont Regional Jail in Farmville, Virginia, where he was being held on a federal detainer while awaiting trial. He was captured in Mexico four days later, but was not returned to the United States for almost 2 years. His sister was charged with helping him escape and was sentenced to 10 months in prison. On May 31, 2023, a third brother, 19, was arrested in connection with the case. He was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and confined in the Wake County Jail under a $1 million secured bond. According to the Wake County Sheriff's Office, he sold the vehicle that his brothers used the night of Deputy Byrd's murder. In September 2024, the shooter pleaded guilty and was sentenced to life without parole. In 2025, he received over five years for gun possession by a felon and two years for breaking out of prison. The brother who was in the truck with the shooter that night pleaded guilty to accessory after the fact of first-degree murder and was sentenced to at least 7 years, no more than 10 years.
Deputy Bryd was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Wake County Sheriff's Office for 13 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his sister, brother-in-law, and four nephews.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-NC-2B4B25DA- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Byrd gave the Wake County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Raleigh community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Ned P. Byrd served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Deputy Sheriff Ned P. Byrd is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In NC, 385 of 664 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58% of this state's fallen. That is 3.8 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Wake County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ned P. Byrd's cause is highlighted.
How Ned P. Byrd Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life without parole
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ned P. Byrd is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ned P. Byrd was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Wake County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
