San Diego plane crash: Dave Shapiro and drummer Daniel Williams among six dead
Dave Shapiro, co-founder of Sound Talent Group, and former drummer Daniel Williams were among six victims of a fatal San Diego plane crash. The crash caused fires and injuries on the ground.
A tragic plane crash occurred early Thursday morning in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood of San Diego, killing six people on board, including renowned music agent Dave Shapiro and drummer Daniel Williams.
The small Cessna 550 aircraft went down around 3:47 a.m., igniting fires in vehicles and homes nearby, and injuring eight people on the ground.
Who was Dave Shapiro? Music agent and aviation enthusiast dies in San Diego plane crash
Dave Shapiro, a 42-year-old music agent, was identified as the pilot of the Murphy Canyon tragedy. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), he had a pilot's license. Shapiro began piloting since he was 22 years old and in 2019, he was approved for a transport pilot rating, which is the highest qualification the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration can give.
Along with his record label, Velocity Records, he also owned a flight school, Velocity Aviation, where he and his wife offered flight services in San Diego and Alaska.
Industry mourns Dave Shapiro
Sound Talent Group, the agency Shapiro co-founded in 2018 with Tim Borror and Matt Andersen, issued a statement confirming his death along with two employees. “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.”
After news of his death reached the public, many industry insiders praised him for helping independent agencies flourish and giving alternative bands a platform to reach mainstream audiences. Nate Blasdell, former lead guitarist of "I Set My Friends on Fire", shared his deep sorrow, describing Shapiro as “the best in the game and one of the most respected people in the industry.”
