Wake County commissioners approve naming bridge after fallen Deputy Ned Byrd

Wake County commissioners on Monday approved naming a bridge after a Wake County deputy killed in the line of duty.

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office had asked that the Auburn Knightdale Road bridge (State Road 2555) over the Neuse River be changed to honor Deputy Ned Byrd.

Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe said renaming the bridge is an honorable way to honor his service and sacrifice.

"[He] was just a kind spirit ... one that you couldn't help but love and be a part of his life," Rowe said.

Byrd was found dead around 1 a.m. on Aug. 12, 2022. According to his autopsy, Byrd was shot four times, including three times in the back of the head, and was killed hours before authorities found him.

Authorities chargedtwo brothers, Arturo Marin-Sotelo and Alder Marin-Sotelo, with his murder.

“This bridge will stand not only as a physical structure but as a lasting tribute to Deputy Byrd’s service and a reminder of his sacrifices and contributions to our community. I want to thank the Board of Commissioners for helping us ensure his memory lives on,” Rowe said.

Byrd began his law enforcement career in 2009 as a detention officer in Wake County, who promoted him to sergeant in 2015. Byrd started working with the sheriff’s office two years later and graduated from basic law enforcement training in 2018.

A year after his death, Wake Deputy Ned Byrd remembered as dedicated, driven

The Wake County Sheriff’s Office will now submit the request to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. If approved by NCDOT, the sheriff’s office said they will hold a dedication ceremony at the bridge.

"Just a way we can rally together and know that Ned knows that we haven't forgotten him," Rowe said. "He's forever in our hearts."

Arturo and Alder Marin-Sotelo were last seen in court in March, but authorities have not set a trial date. The two brothers face life in prison if convicted.