NORRISTOWN, Pa. (KYW Newsradio) — A Hatboro salon owner and Iraq War veteran is on trial for murder over the shooting death of a man defenders said was in self-defense. Prosecutors, however, say the salon owner provoked the victim into a fight so he could shoot him.
It was around 6 p.m. on June 8, according to defense attorney Scott Frame, when his client, Maurice Byrd, 42, protected himself against an “angry, racist, drunk maniac” who charged at him in the parking lot outside his business.
But prosecutors say Byrd baited 37-year-old Steven Strassburg into a fight that day so he could shoot him, which they said made it murder.
Byrd, who is Black, owns Razor Reese’s Salon and Spa on North York Road in Hatboro. Strassburg, who is white, lived in the apartment above the salon. The two had been arguing for years. Police had been called to the address multiple times.
On the day of the shooting, Byrd called 911 and told the dispatcher Strassburg was disrupting his business and called him a racial slur.
That 911 call was played in court, synced with surveillance video of the moments leading up to the shooting. Strassburg was seen outside the salon obscenely gesturing and yelling at Byrd.
After the two exchanged words — and just before he called 911 — Byrd was heard inside the salon saying to himself, “[I’m gonna] shoot at you.”
Byrd was shown going back outside. Strassburg charged towards him. Seven gunshots were clearly heard on the 911 recording, then Byrd said, “I just had to shoot him. He’s down.”
The defendant had a concealed carry permit. He laid the gun on the ground before police arrived, and cooperated after the shooting.