New Details Emerge In Fatal Montco Shooting

HATBORO, PA —Maurice Byrd and Stephen Strassburg had been having disputes for more than two years, authorities said.

The Hatboro Police Department was aware of the disputes between Byrd —who owned Razor Reese’s Salon and Spa on 226 N. York Rd. —and Strassburg, who lived in an apartment above the business.

Since December 2022, Hatboro Police responded to the business on three separate occasions for verbal disputes between the two men, giving them verbal warnings each time and telling both to avoid each other.

On Saturday, there was another altercation between the two, one that ended with the fatal shooting of Strassburg.

Byrd, 41, of Horsham, is charged with the first-degree murder and other offenses in the shooting death of Strassburg, 37, of Hatboro, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin R. Steele and Hatboro Police Chief Mark Ruegg said in a joint statement on Sunday.

The shooting happened just before 6 p.m. Saturday after Byrd told 911 dispatchers that he was being called the "N-word" and shot Strassburg while on the phone with them.

Strassburg died of gunshot wounds to the face, clavicle, and back at Abington Hospital.

Court records reveal new details as detectives interviewed witnesses to the shooting:

Montgomery County Detective John Wittenberger interviewed Joseph Lagler, who said that he and his partner, Inna Palatsky, were sitting on their second-floor balcony that views the parking lot of the business.

Lagler said he saw Byrd outside his business and observed a man verbally confront him, calling him a "drug dealer."

Lagler stated the man went around the corner out of view but came back a short time later, calling Byrd the "N-word." Lagler told detectives that he saw the man then "charge at Maurice," the affidavit states.

Lagler, believing the man was going to engage in a physical confrontation with Byrd, left the balcony in an attempt to exit his apartment. In doing so, he heard several shots, the complaint states.

Following the shots, Lagler returned to his balcony and saw Byrd with a firearm in his hand and near the other man, who was on the ground and not moving.

Lagler stated he remained inside his apartment until the police arrived. Lagler stated that at no time did he observe the other man with any type of weapon.

Palatsky told detectives that she saw the man "verbally engaged" with Byrd.

The criminal complaint states that Palatsky could not hear what the man was saying to Byrd, but believed he was the instigator.

The man went around the corner and out of her view. After a brief time, Palatsky observed a grey Jeep pull up and several women exit the vehicle and enter the building at 226 N. York Road.

Palatsky believed the man was associated with the women as he interacted with them briefly before turning and approaching Byrd "in an aggressive manner," the court complaint states.

Palatsky said the man was unarmed and initiated a physical fight with Byrd. She said the verbal arguing escalated to the two men "attempting to land punches."

Palatsky heard several gunshots and then observed the white man on the ground, the complaint states.

Montgomery County Detective Heather Long and Hatboro Detective Sgt. Conner Dilks took a statement from Byrd.

Byrd told detectives of ongoing problems with Strassburg, who resides upstairs from Byrd's business, the court document states.

Byrd described to detectives that he was standing outside of his business on the parking lot side, smoking a cigarette. While outside, Byrd saw Strassburg at the front corner of the business.

Strassburg yelled to Byrd the "Dirty N-word."

Byrd entered his business to retrieve his cellular phone and call 911, he told detecrives.

While Byrd was inside his business, Strassburg opened the door and reiterated, "Dirty N-Word". Byrd called 911 and went back outside, where he was previously smoking, the complaint states.

While on the phone with 911, Byrd saw Strassburg by one of his family member's vehicles.

At that point, Strassburg saw Byrd and moved toward him, the complaint states.

Byrd began to retreat further into the parking lot when Strassburg grabbed Byrd's shirt.

Byrd retrieved his handgun from the front of his waistband, to which Strassburg responded, "What you gonna do, shoot me? (N-word?)" as Strassburg pulled his arm back like he was going
to punch Byrd.

Byrd fired several shots and dropped his cellular phone, the complaint states.

This occurred while Byrd was on the phone with 911 dispatchers. After Strassburg was on the ground, Byrd dropped his handgun and retrieved his cellular phone. Byrd spoke with 911 dispatchers after the shooting until police arrived, the complaint states.