When news emerged that drummer Daniel Williams, a former member of Ohio-based metal band The Devil Wears Prada, perished in a plane crash on Thursday morning (May 22), the announcement shocked the entire music industry.
Williams had boarded the privately owned aircraft on Wednesday alongside David Shapiro, a music agent who has represented artists including Sum 41 and Vanessa Carlton.
Reports later confirmed that Shapiro was registered as the plane’s owner and possessed a valid pilot’s license.
The aircraft, carrying six passengers total, crashed into the Murphy Canyon neighborhood shortly afterward, prompting evacuations across multiple streets.
“We have jet fuel all over the place,” Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy stated during a press briefing. “Our main goal is to search all these homes and get everybody out right now.”
Initially, authorities were uncertain about the exact number of people aboard the aircraft, but when Shapiro’s talent agency, Sound Talent Group, issued its emotional condolence statement, the public learned there were more than two fatalities.
A Sound Talent Group representative told the BBC: “We are devastated by the loss of our co-founder, colleagues and friends. 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.”
The agency confirmed that three of their employees had been aboard, including Shapiro, and subsequently identified the victims who died that morning.
Sound Talent Group verified that booking assistants Kendall Fortner and Emma Huke were passengers on the flight. Officials later confirmed that Shapiro’s friend Dominic Damian and photographer Celina Kenyon were also among the deceased.
Investigators have identified several conditions that may have contributed to the accident, including poor visibility due to fog.
Dan Baker from the National Transportation Safety Board reported that runway lighting was not operational during the incident, and the weather alert system was malfunctioning when the pilot attempted to land.
These complications caused the aircraft to fall short during its landing approach, ultimately crashing into the residential area.
Following Williams’ death, his former bandmates from The Devil Wears Prada honored both him and Shapiro in an online tribute: “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”
Prior to the crash, Williams had posted several Instagram Stories from inside the cockpit and beside the private jet.
“Hey. Hey … you … look at me … I’m the (co)pilot now,” Williams said in one social media post.
Assistant Fire Department Chief Dan Eddy described the fog as so dense that “you could barely see in front of you.”
The crash caused damage to residential properties and vehicles while also severing power lines during its descent.
Current reports confirm that eight individuals received treatment for minor injuries, and volunteers are working to decontaminate dogs that were exposed to jet fuel following the accident.