Local News
Former Devil Wears Prada Drummer Daniel Williams Shared Final Post Before Fatal Plane Crash in San Diego
Daniel Williams, former drummer of the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada, posted a series of photos from the cockpit of a small aircraft just hours before a tragic crash in San Diego that claimed at least two lives, sparking widespread fears that he may be among the deceased.
The 39-year-old musician shared a series of Instagram stories late Wednesday evening, appearing to document his flight from the cockpit.
One post showed Williams seated at the plane’s controls with the caption, “Hey. Hey… you… look at me…. I’m the (co)pilot now,” referencing a popular movie quote.
In another story, he posted a photo of the aircraft with the caption, “Flying back with @davevelocity,” tagging music agent and pilot Dave Shapiro. A final image, captioned “Here we gooooo,” showed him in the co-pilot’s seat moments before takeoff.
According to flight tracking data, the aircraft departed Teterboro Airport in New Jersey around 11:15 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
It made a fuel stop in Kansas before continuing its journey to Southern California.
The plane ultimately crashed in the early hours of Thursday morning in the Murphy Canyon neighborhood of San Diego, a quiet community near military housing.
The crash, which occurred in dense fog conditions, destroyed multiple homes and vehicles. San Diego Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy described the scene as chaotic and dangerous: “You could barely see in front of you,” he said during a press conference.
Authorities believe the aircraft struck several residential properties, sparking fires that damaged at least 15 buildings and forced the evacuation of approximately 100 residents.
More than 50 emergency personnel responded to the scene.
The agency Sound Talent Group later confirmed that Dave Shapiro, 42, co-founder of the music agency and a prominent talent representative, was among those killed in the crash.
In a statement, the agency said:
“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.”
As of now, Williams has not been officially confirmed among the victims, and no further updates have been shared on his social media accounts since his pre-flight posts.
Authorities have yet to release a full list of those onboard or the exact cause of the crash.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating.
Talladega County, Ala. – Authorities have confirmed that a 55-year-old Sylacauga man was killed in an early morning ATV crash after colliding with a deer in Talladega County.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. on Monday, September 29, 2025, on Oakland Road, about two miles west of Sycamore.
According to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s (ALEA) Highway Patrol Division, the victim has been identified as Willie F. Martin.
Investigators reported that Martin was operating a 2020 Yamaha YFZ450 ATV when the vehicle struck a deer in the roadway.
Following the impact, the ATV veered off the road and overturned. Martin was ejected from the vehicle and sustained fatal injuries.
He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Trooper Jaylon James of ALEA confirmed the details of the crash and said that no other vehicles were involved.
The collision remains under investigation by ALEA’s Highway Patrol Division, and no additional information has been released at this time.