"I just had to shoot him."
A Montgomery County barbershop owner told a 911 dispatcher that moments after authorities said he shot and killed a neighbor who had repeatedly called him a racial slur.
Maurice Byrd, 41, was charged over the weekend in the killing of 37-year-old Stephen Strassburg outside of Razor Reese’s Salon and Spa on North York Road in Hatboro, Pennsylvania.
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Hatboro police officers found Strassburg suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the parking lot next to the hair salon Saturday, June 8 2024, a joint news release from Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele and Hatboro Police Chief Mark Ruegg said.
Strassburg died a short time later at the hospital, he had been shot at least three times in the face, shoulder and back, police said in a criminal complaint obtained by NBC10 Monday.
"A joint investigation into the homicide by Montgomery County Detectives and Hatboro Police found that there was an ongoing dispute between the defendant and the victim, who lived above Razor Reese’s, which is owned by Byrd," the DA's office and police said in an initial news release. "The defendant had called 911 at 5:45 p.m. to say that he was being verbally assaulted by Strassburg. While he was on the phone, the 911 dispatcher heard five gunshots, then a pause, followed by two additional gunshots."
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The criminal complaint from Hatboro police details the circumstances around the shooting. Byrd -- who is Black -- told the 911 operator that he was being "verbally assaulted" by a white man who was calling him a "dirty N-word," according to the affidavit of probable cause.
"While on the phone with the 911 dispatcher, Strassburg can be heard saying 'what are you going to do, you going to shoot me (N-word),'" the criminal complaint said.
"Byrd then says, 'I just had to shoot him,'" the criminal complaint continued. "The dispatcher asks, 'did you hit him' to which Byrd responds, 'yes I did.'"
Investigators said they found evidence that seven shots were fired. They also recovered a 9mm Smith & Wesson semi-automatic handgun that is registered to Byrd, authorities said.
"Strassburg did not have a weapon at the time of the shooting," authorities said.
However, a neighbor told police that they witnessed a person lunge at Byrd and call him the "N-word" moments before the shooting, investigators said.
Byrd himself told investigators that he was standing outside the barbershop smoking a cigarette when Strassburg -- who lived above the barbershop and he had ongoing issues with -- yelled a racial slur at him, the criminal complaint said.
Byrd then went into the barbershop to grab his phone to call 911, police said. At that time, Strassburg opened the door and shouted "dirty N-word" again at Byrd.
Byrd then said he went outside again where Strassburg began moving toward Byrd, police said. Strassburg then grabbed Byrd's shirt, according to Byrd, prompting Byrd to grab his gun from the front of his waistband.
Strassburg then said "What you gonna do, shoot me n-----," while pulling his arm back to apparently punch Byrd, the barber told police.
Byrd dropped his cellphone while firing his gun, police said. He then picked up the phone and started talking to the 911 dispatcher again.
Byrd was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder and possession of a weapon. He remained jailed without bail, according to court records, which don't list an attorney who could comment on his behalf.
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