On May 22, 2025, a Cessna 550 private jet crashed in San Diego’s Murphy Canyon neighbourhood, killing former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams, 39, music agent Dave Shapiro, 42, and at least one other passenger, with authorities presuming all six aboard perished.
The plane, departing Teterboro Airport, New Jersey, at 11:15 PM ET, stopped for fuel in Wichita, Kansas, before crashing around 3:45 AM PT, two miles from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating, with preliminary reports citing dense fog and a power line strike as possible factors.
Williams posted Instagram Stories before takeoff, showing himself in the co-pilot seat and joking, “I’m the (co)pilot now,” alongside Shapiro, a certified pilot who owned the Cessna, registered as N666DS, since July 2024. The plane struck power lines, igniting a fireball that destroyed one home, damaged 10 others, and scorched vehicles in the Navy-owned housing area.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl called the scene “horrific,” with jet fuel and debris widespread. Eight residents suffered minor injuries, including smoke inhalation, but no ground fatalities occurred.
The metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada identified former drummer of the band, Daniel Williams, as one of the people killed.
Dave Shapiro was identified as the second person killed in the crash. The 42-year-old was the co-founder of Sound Talent Group, a music talent agency.… pic.twitter.com/oPUBs0bQdx
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) May 23, 2025Williams, a founding member of The Devil Wears Prada from 2005 to 2016, contributed to albums like Plagues and Dead Throne before becoming a software engineer at GoPro. The band posted on Instagram, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group (STG), represented bands like Sum 41 and Pierce the Veil. STG confirmed three employees died, including Shapiro, stating, “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends.” Music producer Ryan Bruce told Daily Mail, “Dave changed countless lives in the music community,” while praising Williams as “a super sweet guy.”
The Devil Wears Prada founding drummer Daniel Williams and veteran music agent Dave Shapiro among fatalities in San Diego plane crash
"We owe you everything," The Devil Wears Prada wrote in tribute to Williams https://t.co/IOGh7EdECl
— NME (@NME) May 23, 2025The NTSB, led by investigator Eliott Simpson, is examining flight data, audio recordings, and debris. It notes that the pilot’s final transmission indicated a normal approach three miles from the airport. No distress call was issued, and heavy fog may have reduced visibility, prompting an instrument flight rules plan. The FAA confirmed six passengers, though earlier reports suggested two to three deaths, highlighting ongoing uncertainty. The crash’s cause remains under review, with power line impact and weather as key factors.
Williams, who survived a 2019 Dayton mass shooting, and Shapiro, an avid pilot with 15 years of experience, leave significant legacies.
