Daniel Williams, the former drummer of metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, died in a private jet crash in San Diego, California, early on the morning of May 22, 2025. The 39-year-old musician posted photos from inside the aircraft on Instagram just hours before the crash, sharing a view from the cockpit and tagging his longtime associate and talent agent, Dave Shapiro, 42, who also died in the crash.
Williams and Shapiro were two of six people aboard the Cessna 550, which hit a powerline and crashed near Murphy Canyon in the Tierrasanta neighborhood around 3:45 a.m. local time.
All six occupants of the plane were killed. The other passengers were identified as Emma L. Huke (25), Celina Marie Rose Kenyon (36), Kendall Fortner (24), and Dominic Damian.
At least eight other people were injured, although those injuries were sustained by individuals on the ground. Police stated that the fatalities “appear to have been in the aircraft,” and that approximately 100 residents had to evacuate due to dangerous debris and jet fuel spillage. Approximately 10 homes were damaged
During a briefing, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl described the wreckage as overwhelming, adding, “Everything on fire all at once, it was pretty horrific to see.” Audio recordings from liveATC.net captured a final transmission from the aircraft’s pilot noting they were about three miles from their intended destination, Montgomery-Gibbs Executive Airport.
The aircraft had originated in New Jersey and made a fuel stop in Kansas before heading to San Diego. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have launched an investigation, but no official cause has yet been identified.
Sound Talent Group, the booking agency Shapiro co-founded, confirmed his death and that of two other employees in a statement to Billboard and expressed deep condolences to everyone affected. The agency emphasized its loss and asked for privacy on behalf of the families.
Shapiro was the owner and pilot of the plane, which he had bought in July. He also owned Velocity Records.
In a haunting post hours before the crash, Williams shared an image of himself in the copilot’s seat, captioned “Flying back with @davevelocity,” a nod to Shapiro. The post is now widely circulated among grieving fans and musicians across the metal community.
The Devil Wears Prada, which Williams joined in its early days in Dayton, Ohio, paid tribute via Instagram, writing, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.” Williams played with the band until 2016, helping them secure top ten rankings on Billboard’s 200 albums chart with releases like Zombie (2010) and Dead Throne (2011). The group was especially successful on Billboard’s Top Hard Rock Albums chart.
Following his departure from the band, Williams transitioned into a tech career and had been working as a senior software architect at GoPro, according to his Instagram bio. His ability to pivot between the music industry and the tech world earned admiration from peers in both sectors.
Preliminary findings suggest that the crash occurred during poor weather conditions, including thick fog, and that there were multiple airport malfunctions, such as non-functional runway lights and a faulty weather alert system.
