‼️JUST IN: Maurice Byrd Jr. Found NOT GUILTY Of Murder Charges In Connection With The June 8, 2024 Fatal Shooting.
During The Altercation Outside His Business, The Victim Called Him A “N*GGER” And Attempted To Assault Him. Bryd Then Fired Several Shots… pic.twitter.com/rjM5Xu02YU
— i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) March 29, 2025
HATBORO, PA — A Montgomery County jury has found former barber and Army veteran Maurice Byrd not guilty on all homicide charges in the fatal shooting of his neighbor, Stephen Strassburg, during a violent altercation outside Byrd’s Hatboro business in June 2024. The jury agreed Byrd acted in justifiable self-defense.
After nearly ten months behind bars, Byrd, 42, walked free from the courtroom last Thursday with a smile and a message: “We fought a great fight, and the truth prevailed.”
Ongoing Threats & a History of Hostility
Byrd, the owner of Razor Reese’s Salon and Spa, had been locked in a long-running conflict with Strassburg, who lived in an upstairs apartment above the shop. Police have responded to disputes between the two men at least three times since 2022. But things came to a deadly head on June 8, 2024.
That day, Byrd called 911 to report that Strassburg, allegedly intoxicated and aggressive, was verbally abusing him using racial slurs and threatening violence. A 911 dispatcher urged Byrd to stay inside his shop and wait for officers. But Strassburg reportedly continued the confrontation outside, with surveillance footage showing him chasing Byrd and throwing punches.
Despite being outmatched physically—Byrd is smaller, has combat injuries, and was recovering from past service wounds—the Army vet legally carried a 9mm handgun for protection. During the attack, Byrd fired seven shots, hitting Strassburg twice in the neck and back. The footage also showed Byrd backing up as he fired, then calmly placing his weapon on the ground and waiting for police.
Byrd told dispatchers immediately, “I just had to shoot him. He came after me. He’s down.”
Jury Agrees: It Was Self-Defense
Prosecutors from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office had pushed for a first-degree murder conviction, arguing Byrd could have stayed inside and avoided the fight. They claimed Byrd “wanted to kill” Strassburg and pulled the trigger seven times during what they portrayed as a verbal dispute.
But the jury rejected that narrative.
Byrd’s defense attorneys, Joseph Schultz and Scott Frame, portrayed Strassburg as an “angry, racist, drunk maniac” who had terrorized Byrd for years. Witnesses confirmed that Strassburg used hate speech, accused Byrd of being a drug dealer, and physically attacked him.
“The strongest evidence we had was Maurice,” Frame said. “A peaceful business owner, a war hero, forced to defend himself against a violent, unhinged man.”
Byrd did not testify, but his calm 911 call, his cooperation with police, and character witnesses supporting his reputation for peace and honesty all resonated with the jury. After five hours of deliberation, they returned a full acquittal.
Maurice Byrd Jr., with his lawyers after the jury ACQUITTED him!!!
Source: https://t.co/P7idlT2yPY pic.twitter.com/qC95UwMakH
— i Expose Racists & Pedos (@SeeRacists) March 29, 2025
A God-Given Right to Self-Defense
For many Americans, this case is yet another clear reminder of why the right to bear arms—especially for law-abiding citizens—is essential. Byrd, a combat veteran, legally owned and carried his handgun. When a violent aggressor with a history of harassment attacked, he used it to protect his life.
Had Byrd not been armed, the outcome could’ve been very different.
Life After the Trial
Byrd lost his business and his home while awaiting trial. But rather than grow bitter, he’s looking ahead with purpose. Inspired by his time navigating the legal system, he now plans to go to law school and help others who find themselves in legal limbo.
“I see myself going right back to that jailhouse—this time to help people understand their cases,” Byrd said. “There are men in there who don’t understand what they’re up against. I want to change that.”
Byrd says he’s thankful to God, his legal team, and the jury. But he also acknowledges the tragedy of the moment.
“I respect the verdict. I’m sorry this had to happen. And I hope everyone involved can start to heal,” he said.
Bottom line: The Constitution protected Maurice Byrd when nothing else would. In today’s world—especially when law enforcement can’t be everywhere—you have to be able to protect yourself. Byrd did just that. And the jury made the right call.
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The criminal justice system in the US is broken. Despite there being exonerating video evidence of what happened, this man was subject to cruel and unusual punishment in the loss of his home, his business, and 10 months of his life in jail. You don’t have to be guilty of a crime in the US to be punished – only guilty of being the target of an overzealous DA or prosecutor – and your life is ruined. The justice system is being used by the Left to foster injustice against their political or ideological enemies. False imprisonment like this – and like that foisted… Read more »
Locked up 10 months, the confrontation outside had surveillance footage evidence showing Strassburg chasing Byrd and throwing punches and there were two other incidents on file and perhaps Strassburg was the instigator then as well… Appears these clowns determined the threat didn’t warrant lethal force and hoped to make an example of Byrd. Now, sue these clowns for the college tuition needed to become a lawyer.
Why was he held in jail for 10 months? He had a home and a business. He does not sound like a flight risk. Punishment by process.
The man lost his home and his business while wrongfully confined. I hope he sues the PTB and gets enough money to buy a new home and pay for his law degree, at a minimum.
Without equalizers, the big 2 fisted head smasher is King! Like Folsom prison yard.
more proof that people are color blind goobers not so much, should never been charged, should have been at work giving hot lather shaves and haircuts