Maurice Byrd, Jr., 42, owner of Razor Reese’s Salon and Spa in the Hatboro section of Upper Moreland Township, spoke about his recent acquittal of murder charges after he fatally shot 38-year-old Stephen Strassburg of Hatboro during an altercation outside his business in June 2024.
Byrd had been imprisoned on the charges since his arrest. On Thursday, a jury found he had acted in self-defense.
“There was always a feeling of, ‘We have a strong case.’ We have the truth on our side. We have the facts on our side, and we also have the law, but you never know,” Byrd told 6ABC. “My head is still spinning, but day by day it gets better.”
6ABC reached out Strassburg’s family for comment on Byrd’s acquittal but did not hear back. In previous comments, a relative described Strassburg as a hard-working father of one.
“It’s more than just words. There’s a lot more that encompasses this situation. It’s anger, it’s hurt, it’s loneliness, it’s depression, it’s emotional strain, it’s family issues. This was the culmination of emotions that lasted over a three-year period,” Byrd said.
The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, which prosecuted the case, released the following statement:
“While we respect the jury’s verdict in this case, we stand by our evidence and remain committed to seeking justice and upholding our duty to our community with fairness and diligence.”
Following the verdict, Byrd said he plans to go to law school.
“As of right now I see myself going right back to that jailhouse, setting up and helping people with their cases. There are incarcerated men there that do not understand what they are facing. They say it looks like mumbo jumbo and they need help. So the first thing I’m going to do is get my degree and help,” Byrd said, according to Mainline Media.
To cover court costs, a GoFundMe has been launched by Maurice Byrd, Sr.
You can watch 6ABC’s video coverage below:
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Screengrab: 6ABC