Man accused of shooting Mogie’s Lower Burrell pub owner remains hospitalized, criminal case on hold

Rich Cholodofsky | Thursday, November 7, 2024 5:42 p.m.

Louis B. Ruediger | TribLive

Nathan Salem, 45, of Lower Burrell is escorted out of District Judge Cheryl Peck Yakopec’s office in February.

The prosecution of a man accused in the fatal shooting last year of the owner of Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell has again been delayed.

Nathan Salem, 45, has been in custody without bond since Dec. 21 after he was charged with criminal homicide and first-degree murder in the shooting death of of David “Mogie” Magill, 64, owner of the popular bar and restaurant on Leechburg Road. Magill was gunned down outside the business.

In June, a judge halted the criminal case against Salem after ruling he was incompetent to stand trial following a hearing that detailed findings that he suffered from delusions, hallucinations and was divorced from reality.

Salem was transferred from the county jail to Torrance State Hospital for at least three months of treatment.

Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judge Scott Mears on Thursday issued another court order requiring Salem to continue treatment at the Derry Township hospital for another two months. Mental health professionals continue to believe Salem remains incompetent to stand trial, the judge wrote.

Witnesses at a preliminary hearing in February testified Salem shot Magill in Mogie’s parking lot after he arrived that morning to open the pub.