The usually vibrant activity outside Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell was gone Friday, giving way to makeshift memorials dedicated to the bar’s owner.
And as friends, family members and the community grieve the loss of David “Mogie” Magill, 64, the investigation into his death continues.
Magill was shot to death just after 9 a.m. Thursday in the parking lot of the pub, at the intersection of Leechburg and Wildlife Lodge roads.
Police charged Nathan Salem, 45, of Lower Burrell with criminal homicide and first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death. Salem is being held without bond at the Westmoreland County jail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 3.
Salem’s attorney, Duke George, declined to comment on the case Friday.
Salem’s family members also declined to comment Friday. It was quiet at Salem’s Auto Body, the business the family owns along Leechburg Road.
A motive in the case remains unclear. Lower Burrell police Chief John Marhefka said Friday he had no additional information to provide and the investigation is ongoing.
Magill’s family did not respond to requests for comment Friday.
The death of the well-known tavern owner sent shock waves throughout the Alle-Kiski Valley, and his many friends described him as a genuine man whose support of Lower Burrell and the surrounding area was unparalleled.
He was passionate about supporting first responders, local civic organizations and Burrell booster clubs.
Friends said while Magill had strong conservative views, he would always be eager to help out anyone, regardless of their political views.
A banner with messages from the Burrell Youth Wrestling program — “He asked for so little, but gave so very much,” it read — stretched across the restaurant’s front windows. Bouquets and poinsettias were placed outside.
A sign that centerpieced a group of flowers simply read: “Lower Burrell Loves Mogie.”
Investigators have said the shooting occurred as Magill was arriving at his pub and restaurant for the morning. A Lower Burrell police officer, who was maintaining traffic control on Leechburg Road at a nearby school, heard the shooting and immediately responded to the scene.
An employee of a nearby business was performing CPR on Magill when the officer arrived and took over.
EMS crews took Magill to Allegheny Valley Hospital in Harrison, where he was pronounced dead. Police said he suffered a gunshot wound to his torso.
Witnesses said they heard multiple shots fired — as many as six — and police said Magill’s vehicle had bullet holes in the driver’s side door. One bullet also went through a window at the pub and lodged in an interior wall.
After the shooting, Salem drove to Lower Burrell City Hall to turn himself in and admitted to shooting Magill, authorities said. At one point during questioning, police said, Salem asked them whether Magill had died.
Police haven’t commented on what sort of relationship Magill and Salem may have had.
Salem told police when he turned himself in he had two guns in his truck, with expanding rounds that would penetrate a ballistic vest, police said. At least one gun was a 9 mm.
It’s unclear who owned the guns Salem had.
By driving what authorities say is the truck used in the shooting to Lower Burrell City Hall and bringing the suspected murder weapon or weapons onto the property, Salem essentially made city hall part of the crime scene. City hall was closed Friday and is not expected to reopen to the public until after Christmas.
The truck was towed Thursday evening to be impounded as evidence.
Kellen Stepler is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Kellen by email at kstepler@triblive.com or via Twitter .