In a heartbreaking incident, a private plane crashed into a military housing community in Murphy Canyon early last Thursday morning, resulting in the loss of six lives and injuries to several others on the ground. The San Diego County Medical Examiner’s Office has formally identified all but one of the victims, while federal authorities continue to investigate the cause of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that there were six individuals aboard a 1985 Cessna 550 Citation when it crashed around 3:45 a.m. on Thursday, injuring eight people on the ground and displacing approximately 100 residents.
Records from the FAA indicate that the plane was registered to an Alaskan company owned by 42-year-old Dave Shapiro, a music industry agent who co-founded El Cajon-based talent agency Sound Talent Group. This company represents several notable punk and hard rock bands, including Pierce the Veil and Sum 41. Shapiro has been identified as one of the five victims by the Medical Examiner’s Office as of Sunday.
The other identified victims were:
– Emma Huke, 25
– Celina Marie Rose Kenyon, 36
– Kendall Fortner, 24
– Dominic Damian, 41
While not yet confirmed by the Medical Examiner’s Office, multiple media outlets have reported that the sixth victim was Daniel Williams, 39, a former drummer for the metal band The Devil Wears Prada.
Photos shared on Williams’ Instagram account showed a plane that matches the registration number of the crashed aircraft. One caption read, “Flying back with @davevelocity,” indicating a personal connection with Shapiro, while another image seemingly captured from the co-pilot’s seat added to suspicions of their involvement in the crash.
The band The Devil Wears Prada paid tribute to Williams via social media, expressing their grief with a heartfelt message: “No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever.”
All six individuals were passengers on the plane at the time of the crash. While authorities have yet to announce who was piloting the aircraft, reports suggest that Shapiro possessed a valid pilot’s license.
Emma Huke worked as a booking assistant for Sound Talent Group, and Kendall Fortner was also affiliated with the company. Dominic Damian was a well-known martial arts practitioner, and family members shared that a memorial service for him would occur in Pacific Beach on the following Monday.
Celina Marie Rose Kenyon was a photographer, and her family expressed their devastation, stating: “Celina was an amazing mother, daughter, sister, granddaughter, partner, and friend. She decided to fly home to San Diego with other crew and friends on a late-night private flight rather than a commercial flight so she could get home early to take her daughter to school. Our family is devastated beyond these words. The world has lost a beautiful bright light.”
A spokesperson for Sound Talent Group shared a statement with Billboard, expressing their sorrow: “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.”
In related news coverage, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has been investigating the crash scene and circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Reports indicated that both the runway lights and an automated weather notification system at the intended destination airport were non-operational at the time of the incident.
The Cessna had departed New Jersey around 11:15 p.m. Wednesday, with a stop in Wichita, Kansas, for refueling before heading to San Diego. NTSB investigators believe that the aircraft was ultimately destined for Montgomery Field.
As per Investigator Elliott Simpson of the NTSB, the plane struck powerlines approximately two miles southeast of the airport before colliding with a house. Although he refrained from linking the powerline incident directly to the cause of the crash, it was noted that fragments of the aircraft were found beneath the powerlines.
San Diego Fire-Rescue Assistant Chief Dan Eddy confirmed that weather conditions at the time were foggy, stating, “You could barely see in front of you.”
Following the crash, NTSB Investigator Dan Baker remarked that the pilot had reported no issues to air traffic control before the disaster occurred. He also noted that several airport runway lights at Montgomery Field were out of service, and that the airport’s weather information system had been down due to an unrelated power surge.
Additionally, it was indicated that the plane lacked a flight data recorder, with investigators working to determine whether it was equipped with a cockpit voice recorder. Maintenance records suggested that a cockpit voice recorder might have been installed previously, though its operational status remained uncertain.
Most of the injuries sustained by individuals on the ground were described as minor. The crash resulted in one home being completely destroyed and caused fires to spread to other residences, vehicles, and debris in the vicinity. All homes affected were occupied by residents at the time of the incident, according to officials.
Ben McCarty, a homeowner whose property suffered severe damage, told the San Diego Union-Tribune that had he not parked his truck in front of his house, the plane might have crashed directly into their home, potentially leading to fatal consequences. He added, “If that truck hadn’t been there and that plane had gone straight into the house, it probably would have killed us.” He further noted that securing his family’s dogs in a crate saved their lives, as they typically would have been sleeping in the living room.
As investigators continued their work, several streets around the crash site were closed. Authorities reopened Taussig Street and Yorktown Drive to vehicle traffic on Thursday, while Santo Road fully reopened Friday. However, Sample and Salmon streets remained closed to the public.
Residents were advised to report any sightings of jet fuel or debris near the crash site by contacting 619-531-2000. Those who had to leave animals behind were encouraged to reach out to the San Diego Humane Society emergency response team at 619-299-7012 or visit their website.
Witnesses to the crash, or anyone with video footage, were instructed to contact the NTSB via email at [email protected].
In the aftermath of this tragic event, the San Diego Police Department released a statement expressing gratitude for the community’s response, stating, “In moments like this, we’re reminded of the strength and compassion that define our community. Our deepest condolences go out to the families impacted by yesterday’s plane crash. We’re truly grateful to every neighbor, first responder, and volunteer who came together to support one another.”
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria commended the remarkable response from the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and the San Diego Police Department, recognizing the teamwork displayed by county, state, and federal partners alongside community members. He emphasized, “Our city will be supporting these families who were impacted here. They are a part of the military community that makes up our city. Proud partners of our community. And we will support them for as long as it takes to make sure we get back to good here in Tierrasanta.”
Mayor Gloria also extended condolences to the families and loved ones of those aboard the plane while expressing immense gratitude to emergency responders for their swift actions. “San Diego will support the Navy as they assist the residents affected by this tragedy,” he affirmed.
image source from：https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/victims-in-san-diego-plane-crash-identified-052625
