San Diego Plane Crash Victims: Identities Of 6 Victims Made Public

Published May 24, 2025 by Mary Brown
U.S. News
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A deadly plane crash in San Diego became the headline on the 22nd of May, which took the lives of 6 people on board. A Cessna 550 crashed into San Diego’s Murphy Canyon neighborhood in the early hours of Thursday morning. The plane burst into flames and impacted dozens of cars as well as houses, setting them on fire. According to the reports, the identities of all six individuals who lost their lives in the plane crash have been made public. If you are someone who wants to know more about the San Diego plane crash and the victims of the incident, the following article is for you.

Co-founder of Sound Talent Group, Dave Shapiro, Declared Dead

Three out of six people who were declared dead after the horrific plane crash were a part of the music agency called Sound Talent Group. Dave Shapiro, 42, who was widely famous as a music producer and the co-founder of Sound Talent agency, died in the crash. He was also the owner of Velocity Records. According to the reports, he also possessed a pilot’s license and was the owner of the plane that crashed. As per the aircraft registration records, Shapiro just purchased the eight-seater jet. 

Two Employees And A Friend Of David Shapiro Also Among The Dead

Another name in the list of dead is Kendall Fortner, 24, who worked for the music agency as a booking associate. She recently completed her graduation at San Diego State University and was described as fiercely independent and strong-willed. Emma Huke, 25, was also among the dead who belonged to Orange County and completed her graduation from the University of Oregon. She joined the company as a booking associate and was known for her love of music. One of Shapiro’s friends, Dominic Damian, who was working as a software engineer, also died in the crash. 

A Drummer Who Played For The Devil Wears Prada And A Photographer Loses Their Lives 

Another significant name among the six victims who met their tragic fate on Thursday morning was Daniel Williams. David is widely known for playing drums for the Christian metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. Along with him, a photographer named Celina Kenyon, 36, also lost her life in the crash. According to what her social media platform reveals, Celina was a professional photographer who snapped shots of various famous musicians. Her mother took over social media on Friday and informed that she took a jet instead of a commercial flight because she had to take her daughter to school.

How Many People Suffered Injuries On The Ground?

According to the reports from the San Diego Police Department, around eight people suffered injuries on the ground because of the crash. The reports suggest that two out of the eight people injured were treated for minor injuries at the crash site. However, the remaining six who got seriously injured were provided with the medical attention they needed. 

How Did The Plane End Up Crashing On Wednesday Morning?

According to what Eliott Simpson, a senior aviation accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said in a press conference, the plane struck power lines around two miles southeast of the airport. It later ended up colliding with a house and burst into flames. According to the reports, the runway lights were out, and the weather alert system wasn’t working. In addition to that, there was heavy fog at the airport when Dave Shapiro attempted a landing. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the officials will investigate the crash over the next year to determine the accurate cause of the crash.

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Mary Brown