Raleigh, N.C. — It was a breathtaking sight Friday on Glenwood Avenue as Wake County Deputy Ned Byrd's K-9, Sasha, walking with a handler, led a horse caisson carrying the casket to the fallen deputy's funeral.
Family members, friends and men and women in uniform gathered at Providence Baptist Church at 11 a.m. for a funeral service honoring Byrd, who was shot and killed last week in a rural area of Battle Bridge Road near southeast Raleigh.
Outside Lola’s Tavern on Glenwood Avenue, a bar that Byrd liked to frequent, an estimated 50 police K-9 teams from all over the state waited to salute the procession.
Law enforcement members and citizens, both who knew Byrd and 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."
Closer to the church, a woman tearfully said she was simply there to show her support for law enforcement.
The cassion unit, led by the State Highway Patrol with members of the Wake County Sheriff's Office as pallbearers, delivered Byrd's casket to Providence Baptist Church after 11 a.m., where hundreds of people were standing outside waiting.
Multiple family members, including Byrd's cousin Elina Pereira, spoke through tears at the service.
"Ned, you were a person everybody should inspire to be," she said. "You were so helpful caring, loving and kind."
Jason Culbreth, Byrd's Jujutsu 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.
A sparring partner, Conrad Faust, said of Byrd, "He set the bar high for all of us, and I just hope we can live up to it."
In his remarks, Wake County Sheriff Gerald Baker thanked all the law enforcement agencies and officers who participated over the past week in the search for Byrd's killer.
"On that night when we got to the scene, we kneeled down beside him, and I promised him that we would find those responsible," Baker said.
Following the service, law enforcement will follow the hearse carrying Byrd's remains to Brown-Wynne Funeral Home at 300 Saint Mary's St.
At visitation, Deputy Ned Byrd remembered for heart, selfless nature
Hundreds trickled into Mitchell Funeral Home Thursday for visitation services one week after the deputy was killed.
Ryan Schmidt, a longtime friend, roommate and training partner of Byrd's, attended Thursday's visitation. He said the fallen deputy was a man who had a heart of gold and a person who was selfless.
"Some of my favorite memories are small, little moments that you get to experience or are lucky enough to see when you live with somebody day in and day out for several years," he said.
Schmidt spoke again at Friday's funeral, remembering his friend and saying, "If you spend a couple minutes with him, he's difficult to forget."
Schmidt, who first met Byrd at a CrossFit gym, also thanked first responders who serve and protect.
"Thank you and God bless the family and friends of first responders and those who serve knowing the risks and hazards," he said.
The reality of his friend's death is taking a toll on Schmidt.
"The range of emotions to go through between sadness, shock, anger, disbelieve — [I'm] processing those," he said.
Byrd's friends and family said he was a genuine man with a kind heart. They said Byrd shared a special bond with his K-9, Sasha.
"It's just a gut punch," said Brad Kirby, a former K-9 deputy.
Kirby said he admires how Sasha was right by Byrd's side until someone took his life as she remained in the patrol car. But, Kirby said he wonders if she'll be able to get back to work.
"They can't do anything without us, and we can't do anything without them," said Kirby. "We depend on each other too much."
Former detective Lindsay LiCausi runs Back the Blue NC, an organization that establishes fundraisers to help with funeral and estate planning for fallen officers and deputies. She said it's important for her to make her presence known for Byrd.
"I want to go and honor his life and his legacy and pay tribute to his sacrifice," she said.
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'He's difficult to forget': Family, friends speak at funeral for Deputy Ned Byrd - WRAL News
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