Drummer Daniel Williams and music agent Dave Shapiro killed in San Diego plane crash
A fatal plane crash in San Diego on May 22nd, has claimed the lives of six people, including the former The Devil Wears Prada drummer Daniel Williams, renowned music agent Dave Shapiro, and four other individuals.
According to a statement by the Federal Aviation Administration, the Cessna 550 aircraft clipped a power line in the San Diego suburb of Murphy Canyon at around 3:45 local time. Although officials have not yet confirmed the death toll, it is believed that all six passengers on the aircraft, including Williams and Shapiro, died as a result of the crash.
The damaged power lines sparked flames in the San Diego suburb, causing severe damage to multiple properties, destroying dozens of vehicles, and forcing more than 100 residents to evacuate the area. However, it is not believed that anybody on the ground was killed during the crash.
Shapiro, a qualified pilot and flight instructor with 15 years of experience, piloted the aircraft. His plane took off from Teterboro Airport near New York City on Wednesday evening, before stopping to refuel in Kansas, and subsequently heading to San Diego. When the plane crashed, it was just two miles south of San Diego’s Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
Prior to takeoff, Williams posted multiple photos on social media showing himself and Shapiro in the aircraft, including one of the pair in the cockpit. Two other employees of Sound Talent Group were killed in the crash in addition to Shapiro.
A spokesperson for the talent agency told the BBC, “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends.” Adding, “Our hearts go out to their families and to everyone impacted by today’s tragedy. Thank you so much for respecting their privacy at this time.”
Meanwhile, the Ohio metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada paid tribute to their former bandmate, writing on social media, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” Williams was one of the founding members of the group, originally formed as Christian metal band in 2005.
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