Maurice Byrd, Jr., 42, owner of Razor Reese’s Salon and Spa in the Hatboro section of Upper Moreland Township, was acquitted by a jury which found that he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot 38-year-old Stephen Strassburg of Hatboro during an altercation outside his business in June 2024, Mainline Media News reported today.
The trial began earlier this week and ended last night. Byrd has been imprisoned since June 2024 on the charges.
The prosecution claimed that Byrd “hated Strassburg and after years of arguing, goaded him into a confrontation that he escalated into a fatality after Strassburg called him a racial slur.”
Byrd’s attorney said “the real hate came from Strassburg, who called Byrd a ‘dirty n—’ before charging at him with his fists swinging”, adding that Byrd, a disabled Army veteran, stood his ground against an “angry, racist, drunk maniac”.
Strassburg, who was unarmed and rented an apartment next to Byrd’s business, was shot in the neck and back after punching Byrd multiple times, prosecutors said.
Witnesses previously said they saw Strassburg grab Byrd by the front of his shirt. According to those witnesses and a recording of the 9-1-1 call, Strassburg pursued him and asked, “What you gonna do, shoot me (N-word)?”
Strassburg then threw three punches before Byrd pulled his handgun from a holster and fired seven shots, striking Strassburg twice.
“I just had to shoot him, I had to shoot him. He was after me. … There are witnesses,” Byrd said, according to the recording. “He’s down, please. He’s down.”
A conviction of first-degree murder could have carried a mandatory life prison sentence. A conviction of third-degree murder could have carried a possible maximum sentence of 20 to 40 years in prison upon conviction, Mainline Media said.
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.
From the campaign’s description:
I am writing becuase I am hoping to “right” a “wrong”. Maurice Byrd, a disabled war veteran, a small business owner and a community-minded man, was wrongfully imprisoned by an overzealous Montgomery County DA. They held Maurice in jail, for 8 long months on charges that they knew they could not substantiate. Mr. Byrd was defending himself against an intoxicated man who would not give him peace to lawfully conduct his business. While waiting for his day in court, Mr. Byrd’s shop closed. A financial strain was placed on his older parents living hours away. Mr. Byrd was already at a disdvantage in being able to aid in his own defense from jail, the attorney the family poured their money into, suddenly and tragically passed away. Tonight, 3/27/2025, the first injustice was corrected when Maurice Byrd was found NOT GUILTY on all charges!!!!! I believe we should lift Mr. Byrd up and embrace him as a community! Show him that we still care! Mr. Byrd served his country and community admirably and now we should see how we can serve Maurice Byrd Jr.! Thanks!
$445 has been raised at the time of this writing.
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Photo: GoFundMe