Possible motive revealed in Mogie's killing

The man suspected of fatally shooting Lower Burrell restaurant owner David “Mogie” Magill told investigators he pulled the trigger because he thought Magill was a “drug-dealing pedophile,” a witness in the case testified Wednesday.

Lower Burrell police Officer Zachary Beam testified in district court that suspect Nathan Salem offered no evidence to support his claims, and family members vehemently denied them.

Salem, 45, of Lower Burrell, was ordered to stand trial after appearing for a brief preliminary hearing Wednesday in front of District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec. Salem is charged with first-degree murder and criminal homicide in connection with the Dec. 21 killing. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court next month.

Wednesday’s testimony was the first time police revealed any possible motive.

“His exact words were, ‘He was a drug-dealing pedophile.’ That’s what Mr. Salem’s statements to me were,” Beam said.

There is no evidence to support that, Beam testified.

Beam testified that Salem made the accusation when he turned himself in the day of the shooting and, police say, confessed to fatally shooting Magill, 64.

Magill’s son, Patrick, said he was told what Salem said about his father.

“The fact is he ambushed my father in cold blood that morning in December. He plotted and planned it and executed his plan with no remorse. That is a fact. Everything else is a slight against that reality,” said Patrick Magill, who lives in Nevada.

Jill Crimi, who identified herself as the mother of David Magill’s children, said of Salem’s claims: “It was a lie. And if you’re searching for truth, the only truth in this case is that Nate Salem is an admitted murderer.”

“I am asking for consideration for the trauma our family is suffering,” Jill Crimi added in her statement to TribLive. “Please give my children the privacy and respect they deserve.

“Immediately after the hearing today, they were bombarded with questions about a comment said by the man who hunted and shot down their father in cold blood.“

Beam also testified that Salem told police he had been thinking about shooting Magill “for a while.”

Attorney Dan Joseph, who is working with attorney Duke George on Salem’s defense, declined to discuss the statements Salem made to police.

“We’re not going to discuss any of that. Everything will be resolved in court,” Joseph said.

“These are difficult situations, obviously. It’s sad for the Magill family — a good family. He was loved by his community. It’s sad for the Salem family. Their son is in jeopardy now.”

Magill was fatally shot about 9 a.m. Dec. 21 as he was arriving at his Leechburg Road restaurant, Mogie’s Irish Pub, to prepare to open it for the day.

“Based on what I’ve heard, (prosecutors) have established enough evidence to hold this case for court,” Peck Yakopec said.

Beam said Salem appeared composed when he turned himself in at Lower Burrell City Hall.

“He seemed fine — cool, calm and collected,” Beam said.

According to the testimony, Salem was in a truck on Wildlife Lodge Road next to the pub’s parking lot and shot at Magill from there as Magill was parking his car in the pub’s lot that morning.

Beam said multiple people witnessed the shooting, and it was captured on video. He said Magill did nothing prior to the shooting that would make him a threat to anyone.

“Salem said he was turning himself in because he had (screwed) up,” Beam testified.

When asked by reporters if he was remorseful, Salem nodded that he was.

Magill’s death sparked an outpouring of community support. A candlelight vigil held the night of the shooting drew hundreds of people. Magill’s public memorial service was held at the Lower Burrell Veterans of Foreign Wars hall to accommodate the large crowd.

Friends and acquaintances remembered Magill as a community-oriented businessman who supported various local charities and was a firm supporter of police.