Firefighters work the site where a small plane crashed into a San Diego, California, residential street on Thursday.
Daniel Williams, former drummer of The Devil Wears Prada, and Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, were among the victims of a tragic private plane crash that occurred early Thursday morning in San Diego.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), six people were aboard the aircraft, though the full list of casualties has not yet been officially confirmed. Sound Talent Group later announced that three of their employees had died in the crash, including Shapiro, who was just 42 years old.
“We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and friends,” the agency shared in a statement to Billboard.
“Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you for respecting their privacy at this time.”
A Respected Force in the Music Industry
Shapiro, a veteran agent who previously worked with The Agency Group and United Talent Agency, launched Sound Talent Group in 2018 with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen.
His client roster included Sum 41, Pierce the Veil, I Prevail, and Set It Off. Outside of the agency world, he also co-owned Velocity Records and ran Velocity Aviation. He was known for his passion for flying and had over a decade of pilot experience.
Tributes Pour in for Daniel Williams
Daniel Williams’ family confirmed to TMZ that the former drummer was one of the passengers. His band, The Devil Wears Prada, shared a heartfelt tribute on Instagram:
“No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”
Williams was a founding member of the band and played with them from 2005 to 2016.
Crash Details and Investigation
The crash occurred just before 4 a.m. in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood, which houses the largest Navy-owned housing community in the U.S.
The plane went down in foggy conditions, igniting at least one home and several parked vehicles on the street. Authorities reported that multiple people on the ground sustained injuries—some while trying to flee, and others due to smoke inhalation.
Investigation Underway
The FAA confirmed that the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will lead a full investigation into the crash to determine its cause.
