Daniel Williams, former drummer of the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, was killed in a private jet crash in San Diego, California, on the morning of May 22, 2025.
The 39-year-old had shared images from inside the aircraft on Instagram hours before the incident, including a view from the cockpit. He tagged Dave Shapiro, 42, a longtime associate and talent agent, who also died in the crash.
The crash involved Williams and Shapiro among six people on the Cessna 550, which collided with a powerline and crashed near Murphy Canyon in the Tierrasanta neighborhood around 3:45 a.m. local time.
All six aboard were killed. The other passengers were identified as Emma L. Huke, 25; Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36; Kendall Fortner, 24; and Dominic Damian, 41, a black belt jiu jitsu champion.
At least eight people on the ground were injured. Authorities stated the fatalities were confined to the aircraft, with approximately 100 residents evacuated due to debris and jet fuel spillage. Around ten homes sustained damage.
San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said at a briefing, “Everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see.” Audio from liveATC.net captured a final transmission from the plane’s pilot, noting they were about three miles from Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The aircraft originated in New Jersey, made a stop in Kansas for fuel, then continued to San Diego. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have started an investigation, but an official cause is still pending.
Sound Talent Group, the booking agency Shapiro co-founded, confirmed the deaths of Shapiro and two other employees in a statement to Billboard, expressing condolences to those affected and requesting privacy for the families.
Shapiro was the plane’s owner and pilot, having purchased it in July. He also owned Velocity Records.
Williams shared a post hours before the crash from the copilot’s seat, captioned “Flying back with @davevelocity,” referring to Shapiro. The post has circulated widely among fans and musicians in the metal community.
The Devil Wears Prada, with whom Williams played from its early days in Dayton, Ohio, paid tribute on Instagram, saying, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” Williams was part of the band until 2016, contributing to albums like Zombie (2010) and Dead Throne (2011), which performed well on Billboard charts.
After leaving the band, Williams moved into a tech career, serving as a senior software architect at GoPro, as noted in his Instagram bio. His transition from music to technology was praised by peers in both industries.
Initial reports suggest that poor weather, including thick fog, contributed to the crash, along with multiple airport issues like non-functional runway lights and a faulty weather alert system.