Fatal shooting reported in Montco

A Hatboro man has been charged with the murder of a Horsham man after an ongoing argument during which the victim said the “N-word,” authorities said.

June 9, 2024, 12:00 p.m. EDT | Update June 9, 2024, 12:05 p.m. EDT

HATBORO, PA — A borough man has been charged with the murder of a Horsham Township man who allegedly said the “N-word” at him multiple times during an ongoing argument Saturday evening, authorities said.

Maurice Byrd, 41, of Horsham, is charged with the first-degree murder of Stephen Strassburg, 37, of Horsham, Montgomery County Prosecutor Kevin R. Steele and Hatboro Police Chief said Sunday. Mark Ruegg, in a press release.

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Saturday, shortly before 6 p.m., Hatboro police went to Razor Reese's Salon and Spa, 226 N. York Rd. to find Strasburg in the business parking lot suffering from gunshot wounds to his face, collarbone and on the back.

He was transported to Abington Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

A joint investigation by Montgomery County detectives and Hatboro police revealed there was an ongoing dispute between Byrd and Strasburg, who lived above Razor Reese, which Byrd owns.

Byrd had called 911 at 5:45 p.m. to say he was being verbally abused by Strasburg.

A criminal complaint says Byrd told a 911 dispatcher he had been “verbally assaulted” by a white man, who called him a “dirty N-word.”

While still on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, Strasburg can be heard saying “what are you going to do, you're going to shoot me a note,” the complaint states.

Immediately afterwards, seven gunshots were heard. There was an initial burst of five shots, a brief pause, then two more shots, the affidavit states.

Byrd then said “I just had to shoot him.” The dispatcher asks, “Did you hit him?” to which Byrd responds, “Yes, I did,” the criminal complaint states.

Since December 2022, Hatboro police have responded to 226 N York Road three times for verbal disputes between Byrd and Strasburg.

Each of these arguments was verbal in nature and ended with verbal warnings from the Hatboro Police Department to avoid contact with each other, the complaint states.

On site, seven 9 mm fired cartridge cases (FCC) were recovered.

Police also recovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm semi-automatic handgun, registered to Byrd. Byrd has a valid license to carry a firearm.

Strasbourg did not have a weapon at the time of the shooting.

Byrd is charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime.

He is awaiting arraignment at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility, at which time a preliminary hearing date will be set.

There is no bail for the first-degree murder charges.