After an emotional few weeks following the murder of Wake County Sheriff's Office Deputy Ned Byrd, his family is still reeling from the sudden loss.

Byrd’s uncle Walter Penny and his wife traveled to the Outer Banks to take time to grieve.

“It's almost like I lost a son. You have to take time to decompress, take a breath, regroup, maybe trying to figure out what our family can do to keep the memory of our Ned alive,” Penny said.

Byrd served in the Wake County Sheriff's Office for 13 years as a detention officer and, most recently, as a K9 officer.

Penny says his nephew always loved helping people and was dedicated to his job.

“I think this was his destiny to be a police officer. It’s one of the most ideal jobs to help people, and that's what he was all about. We're just all proud of the man he became,” Penny said. 

He says Byrd’s loss will be felt by everyone he came in contact with, and Penny will remember Byrd as hardworking but most of all kind.

Byrd’s family says in order to see justice in his case, they want to see the suspects receive the death penalty.

“They never gave my nephew a chance, why should we? Why should we give them a chance to breathe air and walk the Earth again?” Penny said.

He says the family will be coming back soon to memorialize their nephew and keep his memory alive.

“He was protecting. He cared for his animal, Sasha. He cared for his fellow officers. He was just an awesome human being,” Penny said. 

Suspects Arturo Marin-Sotelo and Alder Alfonso Marin-Sotelo were arrested in connection to Byrd’s death. They will return to court Sept. 19.