In the still, early hours of Thursday morning, a peaceful San Diego neighborhood was rocked awake by a thunderous explosion.
A business jet, engulfed in flames, crashed into the heart of Murphy Canyon — a military housing area — sparking chaos, panic, and heartbreak.
Among the six people killed: Dave Shapiro, 42, a powerhouse in the music industry and co-founder of Sound Talent Group.
Shapiro, known for shaping the careers of artists like Sum 41, Vanessa Carlton, and Hanson, was not just a music mogul — he was a licensed pilot with an unshakable passion for aviation.
Sadly, His journey came to a tragic end when the Cessna 550 he owned struck power lines just two miles from its destination and plummeted into homes, setting cars ablaze and forcing over 100 residents to flee into the foggy night.
“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,” said Sound Talent Group in a statement.
The crash, which occurred around 3:45 a.m, left a trail of destruction nearly a quarter mile long. Fires sparked by jet fuel damaged at least 10 homes, collapsed a roof, and sent thick smoke into the San Diego sky for hours.
Police initially confirmed two deaths, but by mid-morning, it was clear — none of the six aboard the plane had survived. Among them was Daniel Williams, the former drummer for metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada.
No words. We owe you everything. Love you forever,” the band posted on Instagram.
From the stage to the skies
Shapiro’s love for music was matched only by his devotion to aviation.
In a May 2020 Instagram post, he shared a photo of his FAA certifications — Airline Transport Pilot and Certified Flight Instructor — celebrating a recent check ride in a Citation 525 series jet.
“I’d been wanting to go back to flight school for years,” he wrote. “Although I have an established career, I always want to keep learning.”
That drive led him to launch Velocity Aviation, a flight school that offered training in helicopters, aerobatics, and even BASE jumping. According to his company’s website, Shapiro first fell in love with flying at 22 after taking an introductory lesson with his first discretionary income.
Dave Shapiro split his time between San Diego and Homer, Alaska, offering flights in both places through his aviation ventures. Online posts revealed that he and his wife, Julia Pawlik Shapiro, shared a home in the Alaskan town.
The couple tied the knot in 2016 in a way that perfectly captured their shared love of adventure. They obtained their marriage license, boarded a plane, and flew to a remote glacier in Denali National Park—landing on skis attached to the aircraft’s wheels.
“When I met Dave, we became instantly bonded over the unconventional lifestyles we lead and our constant need for adventure,” Julia recalled in a blog post.
By 2025, Shapiro had logged more than a million miles in the air and was the registered owner of the 1985 Cessna S550, managed through DAVIATOR LLC, an Alaska-based entity.
A harrowing morning in Murphy Canyon
The Cessna had taken off from Teterboro Airport in New Jersey late Wednesday night, stopped in Wichita for fuel, and was headed to San Diego when it crashed.
As the aircraft made its final descent, fog blanketed the region. Aviation attorney Barry Newman explained the danger:
Audio from liveATC.net captured the pilot’s final call: he was three miles from the runway, on final approach.
“If a pilot descends to [673 feet] and he can’t see the runway, he has to call for a missed approach or divert to another airport,” Newman told ABC News.
Instead, tragedy struck. Debris rained down on the residential block — fragments under power lines, a wing on a road, jet fuel flowing through gutters. One car burned for hours. The smell of aviation fuel hung thick in the air as fire crews scrambled to contain the inferno.
“We have jet fuel all over the place,” said Assistant Fire Chief Dan Eddy, who added that visibility was so poor that “you could barely see in front of you.”
A Hancock Elementary evacuation center was quickly set up, with residents huddled in pajamas, unsure if their homes had survived. One man, retired sailor Christopher Moore, recalled grabbing his three young boys and running past a flaming car.
“It was definitely horrifying for sure,” he told ABC News. “But sometimes you’ve just got to drop your head and get to safety.”
City Councilmember Raul Campillo praised the courage of those in the neighborhood:
“I’ve heard dramatic stories about military families helping military families out of their homes, jumping out of windows and avoiding fire.”
A painful loss for two worlds
Shapiro’s death leaves a void in both the music and aviation communities. His agency, Sound Talent Group, represented generations of artists who helped define pop and rock. At the same time, Velocity Aviation stood as a testament to his belief in continuous learning and personal growth.
He lived life in motion — whether it was on tour, in the cockpit, or on a BASE jump —and left a legacy of ambition, mentorship, and passion.
The FAA reports that while Thursday’s tragedy is part of a nationwide trend of aviation accidents, 2025 has so far seen fewer crashes overall than previous years. Yet for the families affected, the numbers are meaningless. The pain is deeply personal.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is now leading the investigation and has asked anyone with video or firsthand accounts of the crash to come forward.