Daniel Williams, former drummer for the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died in a private jet crash in San Diego, California, on May 22, 2025. Williams, aged 39, had shared photos from inside the plane on Instagram hours before the crash, including a view from the cockpit. He tagged his associate and talent agent, Dave Shapiro, 42, who also perished in the crash.
Williams and Shapiro were among six people aboard the Cessna 550, which collided with a powerline before crashing near Murphy Canyon in the Tierrasanta neighborhood at approximately 3:45 a.m. local time.
All six passengers were confirmed deceased. The other victims were identified as Emma L. Huke, 25, Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36, Kendall Fortner, 24, and Dominic Damian.
At least eight individuals on the ground sustained injuries. According to police, fatalities appeared to be limited to those in the aircraft. Roughly 100 residents were evacuated due to hazardous debris and jet fuel spillage, and about 10 homes suffered damage.
During a briefing, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the scene as overwhelming, stating, “Everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see.” Audio from liveATC.net captured a final transmission from the pilot indicating they were about three miles from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The aircraft had departed from New Jersey and made a fuel stop in Kansas before heading to San Diego. Investigations by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are ongoing, with no official cause yet determined.
Sound Talent Group, which Shapiro co-founded, confirmed his death along with two other employees and extended condolences to those affected. The agency requested privacy for the families involved.
Shapiro owned and piloted the plane, which he purchased in July. He was also the owner of Velocity Records.
Hours prior to the crash, Williams posted a photo from the copilot’s seat, captioned “Flying back with @davevelocity,” referencing Shapiro. The post has been widely shared among fans and musicians in the metal community.
The Devil Wears Prada, with which Williams played from its early days in Dayton, Ohio, paid tribute on Instagram, writing, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” Williams was with the band until 2016, contributing to several top ten Billboard 200 albums, including Zombie (2010) and Dead Throne (2011). The band achieved particular success on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart.
After leaving the band, Williams pursued a career in technology and worked as a senior software architect at GoPro, as noted in his Instagram bio. His career shift was respected by colleagues in both the music and tech industries.
Preliminary findings indicate that the crash occurred under poor weather conditions, including dense fog, and that there were several airport system malfunctions, such as inoperative runway lights and a faulty weather alert system.
