Sum 41’s Music Agent Among Victims in San Diego Plane Crash
Dave Shapiro, a well-known music agent and co-founder of Sound Talent Group, has been confirmed among those killed in a small plane crash in a San Diego residential area, according to a statement from his agency.
Shapiro represented several major rock bands including Sum 41, Story of the Year, and Pierce the Veil. Sound Talent Group revealed that three of its employees, including Shapiro, perished in the crash, though the identities of the other two have not been officially disclosed.
Also believed to have been aboard the aircraft was Daniel Williams, former drummer for the band The Devil Wears Prada. Media outlets report that Williams had shared photos and videos from the plane on social media shortly before the accident.
Federal investigators reported that six people were on board the Cessna 550 aircraft, which crashed in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood. All are presumed dead. The incident resulted in the destruction of one home and damage to ten others, as well as several burnt vehicles and debris scattered across the area.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues, and dear friends,” Sound Talent Group said in a statement provided to the BBC. “We extend our deepest condolences to their families and everyone affected. We appreciate your respect for their privacy at this time.”
Authorities have confirmed at least two fatalities so far, but the exact death toll remains unconfirmed as investigations continue. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is leading the inquiry.
The crash occurred around 3:45 a.m. local time (10:45 GMT). The Cessna 550, capable of carrying up to ten people, had six onboard when it went down. It was reportedly headed for Montgomery Field, an airport located roughly 10 kilometers north of downtown San Diego.
Shapiro was not only prominent in the music industry but also an experienced pilot and certified flight instructor with 15 years of flying experience, according to his aviation company, Velocity Aviation.
Social media posts believed to be from Williams, the former drummer, included clips of him seated in the co-pilot seat next to Shapiro. One of his posts displayed a flight number that matched the ill-fated aircraft, according to the *San Diego Union-Tribune*.
Williams, who co-founded The Devil Wears Prada, had been part of the Christian metalcore group for over a decade until his departure in 2016. The band posted a tribute to him on Instagram with the message, “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever,” accompanied by photos of Williams drumming and flying.
The crash triggered the evacuation of around 100 residents. Eight people on the ground were injured; one required hospitalization while others were treated at the scene.
Elliot Simpson of the NTSB said the aircraft had departed New Jersey late Wednesday night, made a stop in Wichita, Kansas, to refuel, and was approaching San Diego when it struck two power lines before crashing. While it’s too early to determine the exact cause, fragments of the plane were found beneath power lines, and a wing was located on a nearby street.
Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy described the crash site as chaotic, saying, “There’s plane everywhere,” and noted that the force of the impact scattered wreckage across the area.
Local resident Christopher Moore said he and his wife were jolted awake by a loud explosion and immediately fled their home with their two children upon seeing smoke and a burning car outside. “It was terrifying, but we just had to move fast and get to safety,” he said.
Another witness, a nearby marine, told Fox News he heard a “strange whistling or wheezing sound” just before a loud explosion shook his house.
